Confucius was a great Chinese educator. His thought is very important in traditional Chinese culture. Here are some interesting facts about him.
How tall was Confucius?
One ancient Chinese text recorded that Confucius' height was nine feet and six inches. But how tall is nine feet and six inches? At that time, one foot was equal (平 均 ) to about 23 centimeters. So, Confucius was no less than 220 centimeters tall according to the text.
Was Confucius skilled at martial arts (武术)?
You might have never imagined that Confucius was good at horse riding and archery(射箭). In the 6th century BC, he strongly developed the six skills, which included riding and "archery".
What kinds ofjobs did Confucius have?
Confucius' father died when he was still young, so his family was very poor. In order to live, he learned many skills. He once drove sheep and also worked as a warehouse (仓库) manager.
Did you know that Confucius lived a long life? More than 2,500 years ago, the average lifespan （平均寿命) in China was less than 30, but Confucius lived to be 73, making him one of the oldest men of his time.
Where was the earliest known painted picture of Confucius discovered?
Several years ago, scientists discovered a set of screens (屏风) in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. On the screens, there was written text recording the life of Confucius, as well as paintings of him and his followers.
