The year of his birth was that in which Cyrus became king of Persia.

His father, one of the highest officers of the kingdom, and a brave soldier, died when Confucius was three years old.

He was a studious boy, and when fifteen years old had studied the five sacred books called Kings.

He was married at the age of nineteen, and had only one son by his only wife.

This son died before Confucius, leaving as his posterity a single grandchild, from whom the great multitudes of his descendants now in China were derived.
This grandson was second only to Confucius in wisdom, and was the teacher of the illustrious Mencius.
The first part of the life of Confucius was spent in attempting to reform the abuses of society by means of the official stations which he held, by his influence with princes, and by travelling and intercourse with men.
The second period was that in which he was recalled from his travels to become a minister in his native country, the kingdom of Loo.