In 2009, a movie called 孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius is being filmed in China. It claims that it will give a realistic portrayal of 孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius’ life. Famous Chinese Hong Kong actor Yun-Fat Chow will play the leading role. Despite the 争议(zhēngyì) controversy, surrounding this movie, many people eagerly await its release.
About 2500 years ago, 孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius was born in the 春秋时期(chūnqiū shíqī) Spring and Autumn Period. His real name is 孔丘(kŏngqiū) Kong Qiu. 孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius is the name modern people use. In ancient times, he was called 孔夫子(kŏngfūzĭ) Kung fu-tzu. 夫子(fūzĭ) means “teacher.” He also acquired many other respectful names after his death such as 萬世師表(wàn shì shī biăo) the 10,000 Generation Model Teacher, 至圣(zhì shèng) the Greatest Sage which all show his greatness.
孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius was a great 教育家(jiàoyùjiā ) educator. He taught students using the principle of 有教无类(yŏujiāowúlèi) teaching without discrimination and boundary. As long as one had 潜力(qiánlì) potential and 决心(juéxīn ) determination, he would take them all as 弟子(dìzĭ) students. Through his life, he took in a total as many as 3000 students, and 72 became 栋梁之材(dòngliángzhīcái) a person of great ability and tremendous potential in different States at that time.
孔子(kŏngzĭ) Confucius’s philosophy has exerted great influence on many philosophical aspects such as study, behavior, morality, etc. His 言论(yán lùn) discourses are all collected in the 著作(zhùzuò) masterpiece: 论语(lúnyŭ) The Analects of Confucius and many of them became classics, e.g. 三人行, 必有我师焉(sān rén xíng, bì yŏu wŏ shī yān) As three men are walking together, one of them is bound to be good enough to act as my teacher. These quotations have inspired many later generations.
生词(shēngcí) Vocabulary:
(chūnqiū shíqī)： n a period in Chinese history between 770BC and 476BC
(yŏujiāowúlèi)： adj teaching without discrimination and boundary
(jiàoyùjiā)： n educator
(qiánlì)： n potential
(juéxīn)： n determination
(dòngliángzhīcái)： n a person of great ability and tremendous potential
(zhùzuò)： n masterpiece
(lúnyŭ)： n The Analects of Confucius
(zhēngyì)： n controversy
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