Confucius was a great thinker and educator in Chinese history. He was the founder of
Confucianism and was respectfully referred to as an ancient "sage". His words and life
story were recorded in The Analects. An enduring classic of ancient Chinese culture, The
Analects has had a great influence on the thinkers, writers, and statesmen that came after
Confucius. Without studying this book, one could hardly truly understand the
thousands-of-years' traditional Chinese culture. Much of Confucius' thought, especially
his thought on education, has had a profound influence on Chinese society. In the 21st
century, Confucian thought not only retains the attention of the Chinese, but it also wins
an increasing attention from the international community.