Confucius (Kong Fuzi) was a philosopher and politician whose teachings, preserved in the 'Analects,' became the foundation of Chinese culture and governance for over two millennia. Living during a time of social chaos, he emphasized the importance of family loyalty, social harmony, and the 'rectification of names.' His philosophy focused on the cultivation of virtue (Ren) and the observance of ritual (Li). He introduced the Golden Rule: 'Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.' Confucianism became the state ideology during the Han Dynasty, leading to the civil service examination system, which allowed for social mobility based on merit rather than birthright. His ideas on the responsibilities of rulers to their subjects and the importance of education shaped the ethics of East Asia, influencing Japan, Korea, and Vietnam as well as China.