Confucius

A prominent figure in China, Confucius’s legacy extends beyond East Asia. Born on September 28^th, 551 BC, Confucius was most commonly known as Kongzi among those around him. Aimed to make education widely available, he devoted his life to mastering and teaching the purpose of social improvement. As a firm believer of self-cultivation, he pioneered teaching as a form of character building, rather than mere knowledge acquisition. Confucianism upholds itself with practical aspects of life, specifically social interactions. From personal manners to family relations, his method of teachings revolves around self-improvement and is built on the basis of moral and ethical grounds. Despite not making significant impact on Chinese culture during his time, Confucius’ teachings were made into an elaborate set of rules by his disciples and grandson, Zisi after his death. Continuing his philosophical school, ideals of Confucianism continued to spread and eventually reached the royal courts of China. To this day, he is widely considered as one of the most influential teachers in Chinese history.