Books/Writings
Confucius
Also known as: Kongfuzi
551 – 479 BCE
Chinese

Social thinker. Like Buddhism, Confucianism began as a philosophy, based on the recorded sayings of the founder, but gradually evolved into a religion, and for many centuries was the state religion of China.

Confucian thought was very conservative, emphasizing the veneration of parents, ancestors, and state authorities. But it taught that parents or rulers should not be selfish or authoritarian, but rather aspire to a high standard of courtesy and conduct, and unselfishly work for the betterment of those below them.

Contemporaries
fl. 550 BCEZoroaster
570–480 BCEXenophanes
fl. 550 BCELucius Tarquinius Superbus
fl. c. 650–c. 550 BCESolon
496–406 BCESophocles
fl. 550 BCEPythagoras
490–421 BCEProtagoras
600–527 BCEPisistratus
495–429 BCEPericles
515–445 BCEParmenides
fl. 550 BCELucretia
?–480 BCELeonidas
fl. 550 BCELaozi
fl. 550 BCEKapila
485–425 BCEHerodotos
?–514 BCEHarmodius
485–380 BCEGorgias
480–406 BCEEuripides
548–486 BCEDarius I
?–529 BCECyrus II
?–546 BCECroesus
fl. 510 BCEHoratius Cocles
563–483 BCEBuddha
fl. 500 BCELucius Brutus
530–468 BCEAristides
500–428 BCEAnaxagoras
611–547 BCEAnaximander
585–525 BCEAnaximenes
fl. c. 550–c. 450 BCEAnanda
525–456 BCEAeschylus
fl. 550 BCEAesop