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Before turning to the seven individual thinkers and their respective theories of self cultivation, let us begin by exploring the more general question of why the Chinese originated and maintained such an enduring concern with the issue of moral self cultivation. For while such a concern with self cultivation is by no means unique, the prominence that this theme has enjoyed throughout different Chinese traditions -- Daoist and Buddhist as well as Confucian -- is distinctive. For example, while certain western thinkers, notably Aristotle, were deeply interested in self cultivation, this was not as central a theme in the western ethical tradition taken as a whole. Western philosophers have been much more concerned with trying to define what the good is and worrying about how, if at all, one can come to know the good. Chinese thinkers have focused instead on the problem of how to become good. Moral self cultivation is one of the most thoroughly and regularly discussed topics among Chinese ethical philosophers.

Confucius was born in the State of Lu, in the District of Ch'ang P'ing, in the city of Chou. His ancestor was from the State of Sung and was called K'ung Fang-shu. Fang-shu begat Po-hsia. Po-hsia begat Shu-Liang Ho. Late in life, Ho was united in matrimony with the daughter of the man, Yen, and begat Confucius. His mother prayed to the hill, Ni, and conceived Confucius. It was in the twenty-second year of Duke Hsiang of Lu that Confucius was born (551 B.C.). At his birth, he had on his head a bulging of the skull, whence he is said to have received the name "Hill" (Ch'iu). His style or appellation was Chung Ni, his family name K'ung. When he was born, his father, Shu-Liang Ho, died. He was buried on the mountain Fang. The mountain Fang lies eastward from Lu. Therefore Confucius was in doubt as to the place of the grave of his father; for his mother kept silence toward him regarding it.

Confucius was always wont to set up sacrificial vessels in his childish play, and to imitate ceremonial gestures. When the mother of Confucius died, he buried her temporarily near the Way of the Five Fathers, so great was his circumspection. When the mother of Wan Fu of Chou later instructed Confucius concerning the place of the grave of his father, he went thither and buried the two bodies together on the mountain of Fang.

While Confucius was still wearing mourning, Baron Chi gave a banquet for the notables. Confucius also attended. Then Yang Hu took him to task, and said: "Baron Chi has prepared a banquet for the notables; he has not the honor of inviting you." Thereupon, Confucius withdrew.

When Confucius was seventeen years old, the Minister Meng Hsi-tze of Lu fell ill, and was nigh unto death. Then 'he summoned his heir, I-tze, and said: "K'ung Ch'iu is the descendant of a philosopher who was slain in Sung. His ancestor, Fu Fu Ho, had the first claim to the throne of Sung, and as heir he yielded to Duke Li. Cheng Ch'ao-fu was then serving the Dukes Tai, Wu, and Hsean. Thrice he received ever higher honours, and became there from but the more modest. Thus he wrote upon his tripod: 'On the occasion of the first honor, I bowed my head; at the second, I bent my shoulders; and at the third, I walked stooped over. I slink along the wall; thus no one ventures to cast blame upon me. In this utensil I cook my porridge; in it I cook my grits, to still my hunger.' So filled with modesty was he. I have heard that the descendants of a philosopher, even when they do not find a suitable position in their own times, yet finally attain their goal. Now K'ung Ch'iu is still young and loves decorum. Might he be the one for whom success is destined? When I am no more, you must take him as your teacher."

When then Meng Hsi-tze had died, I-tze and Nan-Chung Ching-shu of Lu went to him to learn decorum of him.

In the same year, Baron Chi Wu died, and P'ing Tze was put in his place. Confucius was poor and of low estate, and when he grew older he served as a petty official of the family Chi, and while he was in office his accounts and the measures were always correct. Thereupon, he was made Chief Shepherd; then the beasts grew in numbers and multiplied. . .

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