An Urban Planner from the Indus Valley Civilization Speaks Out About the Mystery that was his Home

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My name is Confucius, or as I was known in my time, Kong Qiu. I lived over 2,500 years ago in ancient China, during a time of war, chaos, and political corruption. You’ve probably heard my name in quotes or textbooks, but I wasn’t trying to be famous. I just wanted to bring order, harmony, and respect back to a society that had forgotten its values. Let me tell you how that journey began.

I was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu, in what’s now Shandong Province. My family wasn’t rich, but we had noble roots. My father died when I was young, and my mother raised me to value education, integrity, and humility. From a young age, I loved reading, asking questions, and learning from the wisdom of the past. I believed that the best way to improve the future was to understand what had worked before—and what had gone wrong.

As I grew older, I worked in government and dreamed of being an advisor to a wise ruler, someone who could restore peace and justice to China. But the world around me wasn’t ready for big ideas. Warlords fought for power, rulers cared more about wealth than virtue, and corruption was everywhere. So instead of waiting for a perfect king, I became a teacher. I walked from city to city, gathering students and sharing what I believed.

I taught that order begins with the individual. If a person could be honest, respectful, and loyal, then a family could be strong. If families were strong, then a whole society could be wise and peaceful. My philosophy focused on five key relationships: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger, and friend and friend. Each relationship, I said, should be built on mutual respect, responsibility, and kindness.

I believed in filial piety—respecting and honoring your parents and ancestors—not just because they gave you life, but because they shaped who you are. I also believed that education and good character were more important than birth or status. Anyone, I said, could become noble—not through money or bloodlines, but through virtue.

Though I never became a powerful official, my words spread far and wide. My students passed them down, and later generations wrote them into books like the Analects. My ideas became the foundation of Confucianism, a philosophy that shaped Chinese society, politics, and education for centuries. Even emperors eventually came to embrace the principles I taught.

I died in 479 BC, not knowing if my vision for a better world would take root. But it did. People still quote my words today, not because I was perfect, but because I reminded them of something simple but powerful: you change the world by changing yourself first.

If there’s one lesson I want you to take from my story, it’s this: respect others, seek wisdom, and always act with integrity—even when no one’s watching. You don’t need to wear a crown to lead. Just be the kind of person others are proud to follow. Thank you for listening.

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