Belle: Now, during the Han dynasty, the teachings of Confucius really took hold in China. Hannah: What’s that? Belle: Oh, not what, dear, who. Kim: Confucius is the man! His real name was Kung Fu-tzu, and he was born in 551 B.C.
Belle: Confucius was one of the first private teachers in China. Today, the Han people celebrate his birthday, and they call it Teacher’s Day. Kim: Even though Confucius lived many years before this time, his teachings lived on in his students who taught others. Confucius believed people should behave in a certain moral way. They should honor tradition, respect their parents and teachers, and be extremely honest. Each person even a ruler had certain duties to perform.
Hannah: Kind of like a religion Belle: No, dear. Confucianism isn’t a religion; it’s a way of behaving. Confucius said, do not do unto others, what you would not want others to do to you. We call that the Golden Rule. Kim: In other words, don’t be nasty, if you don’t want someone else to be nasty to you. Hannah: He really wanted people to get along, didn’t he Kim: Yes, he did. And his ideas helped hold the huge country together in one belief system.
Follow Up Question 1:
What do the Han people call Confucius's birthday?
Follow Up Question 2:
What is the Golden Rule?
