Confucius. A Study of His Character and Philosophy.

T -^U NG-FU-TZU, or J(_^-^(Kung-tzu), popularly known as Con- Xv fucius, was neither a philosopher nor a founder of religion ; he was a, moral teacher, or more properly a statesman, whose maxim was that the people should be governed by the ethical law of sympath}',^rather than by the jurisprudential principle of right and duty.Therefore those ontological and epistemological prob- lems which led Greek and Indian minds into a maze of metaphysical speculation did not claim much attention from the Chinese sage, nor did the deep and pessimistic religious feelings which oc- cupied the heart of the Semitic prophet stir in him any aspiration for God or kingdom of heaven.Meng-tzu, or Mencius,"^one of the most prominent leaders of Confucianism, spoke of him as one who collected ancient traditions and brought them to perfection.Confucius himself once said that he propounded the old doctrine of ancient sages and did not proclaim anything new and original.^Thisspirit of conservatism