Confucius (September 28, 55 BC1year-April 479 BC 1 1 year), surnamed Kong, was born in Lu (now Qufu, Shandong) at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, and his ancestral home was Li Yi (now Xiayi, Henan). Confucius was a famous thinker and educator in ancient China. He initiated the atmosphere of private lectures, advocated benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith, and was the founder of Confucianism. Educated by Laozi, Confucius led some disciples around the world for fourteen years. In his later years, he studied six classics: Poetry, Shu, Li, Yue, Yi and Chunqiu. According to legend, he has 3,000 disciples, including 72 sages. After the death of Confucius, his disciples and their re-disciples recorded the words and deeds, quotations and thoughts of Confucius and his disciples, and compiled the Confucian classic The Analects.