素材-全国-2020_小学英语 英语故事（名人故事）Confucius.doc

1ConfuciusConfucius,thegreatestteacherinthehistoryofChina,wasbornin551B.C.Hebegantodevotehimselftoseriousstudiesandmadeuphismindtobecomeascholarattheageoffifteen.Whenhebeganteachinginhisearlytwenties,hesoonbegantoattractmanydisciples.Hewasnotonlyascholar,butalsoamanwhohadpoliticalideals.Heheldseveralofficesandhadtriedhardtoputhisidealsintopractice.Butwhenhisidealscouldnotberealized,heresigned.Afterhisresignationfromgovernmentservice,hespenthislastyearsteachingandeditingearlierwritings.ItisgenerallybelievedthatConfuciuspreservedtheliteratureofChinaforlatertimes.Fearingthatitwouldbelostduringthetroublederainwhichhelived,hegatheredearlierwritingstopreparewhatarecalledtheFiveClassics.HealsoleftbehindhimtheAnalects,acollectionofsayings,whichwereputtogetherbyhisdisciples.Itwasinfactacompletecollectionofhisthoughtsandteachings.ConfuciuswasbornonlyafewyearsaftertheBuddha.UnliketheBuddha,however,hedidnotseektoescapefromtheworld,butwantedtofindawayformantobehappyonearth.Hetaughtthathumannaturewasgood,notbad.Ifmenwouldthinkandactproperly,hebelieved,mostevilswoulddisappear.Histeachingsheldthatmenshoulddevelopthevirtuesofkindliness,tolerance,andrespectforolderpeopleandancestors.Ingovernmenthebelievedthattherulerwaslikethefatherinafamily:hedirectedthegovernment,butwasresponsibleforthewelfareofhispeople.Healsostressedtheimportanceofeducation,goodmanners,andtradition.Itwashisbeliefthateducationshouldnotbetheprivilegeofalimitednumberofpeople.Sohewasthefirstpersontobringtheknowledgepreviouslyreservedfortherulingclasstothecommonpeople.HisthoughtsandteachingswerehighlyvaluedbytheChinesepeopleandtheyformedthefoundationofagreatphilosophy,Confucianism.Infact,ConfucianismhasprovidedanadmirablesystemofpracticalethicsforthepeopleofChinaandhashadagreatinfluenceonthemuptothepresentday.