What is the concept of chun-tzu? Explain Confucius's reasoning behind this concept and why he tried to instill it into his followers.
Confucianism is the major religious influence throughout East Asia, particularly in China where it originated. The religion is based on the teachings of Kung Fu-tzu, whom Western missionaries later latinised to Confucius. Confucius was born in 551 BCE to an aristocratic family who were nonetheless quite poor due to his father's death when he was three. However, Confucius received a good education and had a passion for study, later reflected in his teachings. Confucius had a noble and commanding personality while also being a man of an affectionate nature, sympathetic and most considerate towards others. He loved his disciples dearly, and, in turn, won their undying devotion. These followers (or more precisely, the second generation of these followers) recorded all Confucius" teachings in the Analects and those who read it gain insight into the wisdom of Confucius. Confucianism has had a profound affect on the people of China and its beliefs and values have provided many a guide to moral living. It serves its followers as a foundation for the life of perfect goodness and many aspire to lead a life in the noble and righteous way that Confucius did. He left instructions and teachings on every aspect of human living and aspired to create the perfect society both in government and throughout the community. Yet he knew that only way to achieve this was through the concept of chun-tzu.
In his twenties, Confucius set up a school. He gathered around him young men of talent and nobility and began to instruct them. He taught them the Traditional Six Disciplines of history, poetry, government, ethics, music and divination. Yet his main goal was to teach these young men how to become chun-tzu. Chun-tzu can loosely be translated as "perfect gentleman" yet it embodies much more than that.