孔子是中国最伟大的思想家、教育家之一。他的学说，就是我们现在所指的儒家学说至今仍对中国人乃至世界各地的华人有着深远的影响。
   
    孔子在公元前551年生于鲁国，也就是今日山东的曲阜。他出身于贵族之家，从小就在家里受到良好的教育。在孔子生活的时代，只有贵族子弟才有读书的机会。孔子首创私塾，接受各个阶层的学生，实行普及教育。
   
    孔子于公元前479年病逝。孔子死后，他的弟子将他的教诲和主张编写成《论语》，成为儒家学说的经典。孔子尽其一生，强调美德与道德价值，以恢复社会的安宁与和谐。他对社会行为的看法和思想，到今天还是有价值的。

  Confucius (Kong Zi) is one of China's greatest thinkers and educationists. His teachings have become known as Confucianism and they continue to influence today’s Chinese and Chinese communities all over the world.
   
    Confucius was born in 551 BC in the state Lu, which is today's Qufu in Shandong. He came from a noble family, so the young Confucius was able to read many books (which were written on bamboo slabs in those days ) at home. Until then, only the children of nobles were educated. Confucius was the first to start a private school which accepted students from all classes of the country.
   
    Confucius died of illness in 497 BC. His basic teachings were collected into the Confucianism Classic- the Analects, by his students after his death. Confucius spent his whole life trying to restore peace and harmony in society by emphasing moral virtues and values. Many of his views and ideas on social behaviour continue to be relevant today.