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This is a brief timeline of the important events of the life of Confucius, who was a teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher. This timeline will help students to understand the biography of Confucius and why he is important to study in History courses.
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At age 3, Confucius lost his father, Kong He, who was an officer in Lu military and was raised by his mother, Yan Zhengzai.
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Confucius lost his mother and per tradition, he spent 3 years mourning.
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At age 19, Confucius gets married to Qiguan.
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A year after his marriage with Qiguan, the couple had their first child, Kong Li.
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Confucius was the first teacher in China whose aim was to make education available for everyone. He adopted teaching as his career teaching calligraphy, ritual, charioteering, arithmetic, music, and archery supported by his knowledge of history.
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Confucius was said to have met the famous teacher, Lao Tzu, who criticized Confucius for his stuffiness and arrogance.
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In his late 40's, Confucius was appointed the governor of a town in Lu state, which was considered a minor position at the time.
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Confucius becomes the "Minister of Crime" in the state of Lu.
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Confucius decides to embark on a journey away from Lu, throughout eastern China. With the accompaniment of few of his disciples, they wander throughout the eastern states of Wei, Sung, and Ch'en.
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With much time spent developing the art of government away from Lu, Confucius gained many followers and he was invited back to Lu because of few of his disciples who had returned to Lu and assumed positions with Chi clan.
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At his return to Lu, Confucius encounters sad deaths of his loved ones. He finds out that his wife had passed away a year prior, his son died, and his two favorite disciples, Yen Hui and Tzu-Iu had died. Confucius felt these losses deeply and passed away.
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