According to tradition (and the tourist office in Qufu, Shandong) today is Confucius’ 2557th birthday. The big guy has taken a few knocks in the last 150 years or so, but his staying power is just impressive. Just this past month, Confucius has been a symbol of cross-straits unity, a means of promoting a harmonious and obedient PRC society, used to bolster the morale of teachers, and even as an odd symbol of girl-power.
As a scholar, Confucius described himself as somebody who, “in the pursuit of knowledge forgot about food, in the joy of learning forgot his sorrows, and who was unaware that old age would soon be upon him.” In his own autobiography, the briefest memoir in world history, he says:
“At 15, I set my heart on learning. At 30, I stood firm. At 40, I had no doubts. At 50, I could hear the will of Heaven. At 60, I was ready to listen. At 70, I could follow my heart’s desires without transgressing that which is right.”
It’s tough to know what Confucius might have thought of life in 2006. During his own time, he played a role not unknown in modern society–underemployed political