The Heroic Elegy of Confucius

Born in the Chinese state of Lu in 551 BC Confucius is raised by his mother after his father dies when he is only three He marries at 19 and enters the service of the local nobility At 32 he becomes tutor to the Prince of Lus children eventually becoming a politician at 51 His career peaks are the roles of Lus justice minister and eventually prime minister The land prospers for four years but Confucius grows disenchanted with court intrigues For the following 12 years he wanders the neighboring states offering advice to their rulers