The Divine Descent at Mount Ni: Confucius’ Lineage and Birth
Ancestral Origins
Confucius (551-479 BCE), named Qiu with the courtesy name Zhongni, was descended from the noble families of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. His ancestry can be traced to Weizi Qi, elder half-brother of the infamous King Zhou of Shang. Through ancient genealogical records, his lineage extends back further to the revered King Tang of Shang, who overthrew the tyrannical King Jie of Xia in a righteous revolution. Thus, Confucius proudly declared himself “a man of Shang descent” (Records of Rituals: Tan Gong).
Family History
After the Zhou conquest, King Wu granted Weizi Qi the state of Song to preserve Shang traditions. Confucius’ ancestors served as high ministers in Song for generations, including:
- Fufu He, who yielded the throne to his younger brother
- Zheng Kaofu, who served three Song rulers with renowned humility
- Kong Fujia, a grand marshal whose assassination forced the family into exile
Migration and Decline
Following political turmoil, the family fled to Zouyi in Lu state (modern Qufu, Shandong), transitioning from aristocracy to scholar-official status. Confucius’ father, Shuliang He, was a distinguished warrior who served as a local official.
Birth and Naming
After Shuliang He’s first wife bore only daughters and a disabled son, he remarried Yan Zhengzai. Confucius was born on September 28, 551 BCE, following prayers at Mount Ni – hence his name Qiu (“hill”) and style Zhongni (“Second Son of Ni”). Legends describe his unusual head shape resembling the mountain, and historical records note his exceptional height (approximately 2.2 metres).
Legacy
Though born to diminished nobility, Confucius’ distinguished lineage – from Shang kings to exiled scholars – profoundly shaped his moral vision and philosophical teachings on benevolence, propriety and governance.
Credits to AI tools: Deepseek, Leonardo, Hailuo, LTX, Pixverse, Media.io, Elevenlabs, Capcut
Recent Comments