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Sketch of the Life of Confucius
Art
This revival of ancient rates impressed his townsmen with a deep sense of his respect for former usages, and led them to copy his ex- ample. From them it spread to the neighboring states, and has been followed from that day to this.
The three years of his retirement were not lost, for in them Con- fucius devoted his time to study. He diligently examined the an- cicut books to learn what coustituted the instructions of the kings of antiquity, and to ascertain the means by which they hoped to attain the perfection of morals. The result of his studies was that he deter- mined to devote his life to the instruction of his countrymen, in order to revive in them an attachment and respect for ancient usages, in the practice of which he thought lay all social and political virtues. Not content with explaining to his countrymen the precepts of pure morality, he proposed to found a school, in order to train up pupils who could diffuse his doctrine to all parts of the empire, and carry on what he had begun. It also formed part of lus plan to compose a series of works in which his doctrines should be fully exhibited. these designs he lived to accomplish. In carrying his plans into effect, and in promulgating his instructions, he generally met with an attentive hearing, although he was at times the butt of contradiction from some persous, and the object of ridicule from others.
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The greater part of the life of Confucius was passed in traveling, visiting the courts of the petty princes whose states then con- stituted the empire under the sovereign of the Chau dynasty. This course was, as might be expected, fruitless in reforming these states, but it diffused a general knowledge of himself and his doctrine, and procured him scholars. The prince of Tsi was the first who invited him to his court, and received him with distinction. The prince heard him with pleasure and applauded his maxims; but to the chagrin of Confucius, he continued to live in luxury and allow his ministers to oppress his subjects and abuse their power. He, however, offered him for his maintenance the revenue of a considerable city, which the philosopher thought proper to decline, alleging that he had done nothing to merit such a recompense.
After sojourning a year in Tsí, and seeing that his discourses produced no effect to reform the abuses and evils of the country, he left it, and visited some of the other principalities.
On the road between Tsí and Chin, he got into a difficulty. The prince of Wú having attacked Chin, the lord of Tsú came to his relief, and sent an invitation to Confucius to join him, but the other party, fearing that he would do them a disservice, sent people to in-
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