PREFACE

Confucius (551-479 BC), the great philosopher, educator, and statesman of the late Spring and Autumn Period, was the founder of Confucianism – the impact of which, rooted in the principles of benevolence and rites, has had a profound influence on various aspects of Chinese philosophy, culture, art, and social life, and has spread well beyond China’s borders to become a cultural symbol that represents the country globally.

Born in Qufu in 551 BC in the State of Lu, Confucius admired rites and virtuous people since childhood, and learned from the likes of Tan Zi, Lao Zi, Chang Hong, and Shi Xiang. He became well known in the State of Lu for his extensive knowledge of rites and music and later, as an adult, held various modest government positions such as the keeper of the Lu granary and livestock superintendent, fulfilling these duties diligently. At the age of 30, he established a private school that accepted all students regardless of their social status, thus providing educational opportunities for commoners’ children that were rare at the time. At the age of 50, Confucius served in various high government positions in Lu, including the Governor of Zhongdu, Minister of Works, and then Minister of Justice. The State of Lu was in order with Confucius’ administration. However, due to disagreements with the ruler, he resigned from his position and traveled with his disciples to different states, actively advocating for benevolent governance and the rule of rites. In his later years, he returned to Lu and devoted himself to compiling ancient classics – The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Songs, The Book of Music, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals. Focusing on these six classics, he continued to teach during this period of his life, and amassed around three thousand disciples, seventy-two of whom were considered talented and three exceptional. In 479 BC, Confucius passed away. The following year, Duke Ai of the State of Lu converted Confucius’ former residence into a temple for people to offer sacrifices to him. In 195 BC, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, visited the Temple of Confucius to offer sacrifices. Confucianism gained prominence during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (141-87 BC), and numerous ways and practices were developed to honor and pay tribute to the great philosopher in later generations since then.

Reading Confucius’ works, one can imagine his manner.

Confucius, in the eyes of his disciples, was an elder who was gentle, yet could be severe. He had an over-awing presence, yet was not violent. He was deferential, yet easy. Described by his disciple Zigong as a model teacher of every age, generations of people have come to respect the great philosopher as a cultural master. Sima Qian described him as standing at the unusually great height of nine chi and six cun – around 1.90 meters in modern measurements. The true image of the Master, however, has likely been lost to time, though this has not hindered later generations from studying and admiring him. Since the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BCAD 220), people have utilized various means to promote his image, deeds, and thoughts, whether it be through wall paintings, stone carvings, wood engravings, or paper and silk paintings.

The Paintings of the Sacred Sagas of Confucius is based on Confucius’ deeds, as recorded in the works such as “Hereditary House of Confucius”, a chapter of Sima Qian’s Records of the Historian, The Analects of Confucius, The Mencius, and The School Sayings of Confucius. The earliest surviving version of The Paintings of the Sacred Sagas of Confucius is believed to be illustrated by Wang Zhenpeng from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), though some scholars question this claim. This version comprises ten scrolls and was once housed in Tianlai Pavilion, a private library owned by Xiang Yuanbian in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), before later being lost to Japan. Paper and printing technologies developed over time, and so too did The Paintings of the Sacred Sagas of Confucius. Some versions have dozens to even hundreds of sizable paintings. It has developed into a distinct genre of literature that features a specific layout and thematic imagery. As a carrier of Confucian thought, it has been spread overseas from its inception, and has been republished and disseminated abroad, exerting significant influence on Japan, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia, and even Europe and America.

This version is titled The Paintings of the Sacred Sagas of Confucius: Paintings by Qiu Shizhou and Calligraphy by Wen Zhengming.

Qiu Shizhou (1498-1552), also known as Qiu Ying, was a renowned painter of the Ming Dynasty who was especially skilled in blue-green landscapes and realistic figure painting. He incorporated sophisticated and novel components into conventional practice to create an exceptional and unique style of art.

Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), also known as Wen Bi, was a painter, calligrapher, writer, and poet of the Ming Dynasty who specialized in landscapes, figures, flowers, orchids, and bamboo painting. His calligraphy was elegant and refined, and while skilled in the running script, cursive script, official script, and seal script, he excelled particularly in small regular script.

This version that combines their paintings and calligraphy is considered a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the original version has been lost to time, but this Qing-dynasty replica echoes the original style with its meticulous brushwork. The layouts of the paintings are well-organized, with a balance between density and sparsity, clear visual structure, smooth and flowing lines, lifelike figures, and detailed scenery. Except for the second piece, each painting is accompanied by annotations, vividly portraying the ups and downs of Confucius’ life. The carriages, tables, clothing, and architecture depicted in the paintings exhibit typical Ming-dynasty style.

Confucius has transcended from a simple historical celebrity to a significant cultural icon of China through written documents and paintings that have been disseminated for thousands of years. The legacy of Confucius benefits China and the whole world. The United Nations once recognized him as one of the world’s top ten cultural celebrities. In fact, for over two thousand years, Confucius has continuously possessed enduring and far-reaching charm worldwide. For those who love traditional Chinese culture, The Paintings of the Sacred Sagas of Confucius, as one of the most important documents of Confucian culture, presents Confucius’ life in the simplest and most accessible way. It provides people with an objective understanding of Confucian culture. We hope that this book can contribute to the widespread recognition and admiration of Chinese culture by people around the world.

Guo Sike, curator of Confucius Museum

In Qufu, Shandong Province – Confucius’ hometown