uld trace its heritage to nobility but had become poor by the time of his birth. Confucius was born to his father's third wife who had dutifully addressed her prayers to the holy Mount T'ai. History suggests that Confucius' father died when he was approximately 3 years old and that he himself married when he was 19. Although Confucius was not privileged enough to have a regular teacher, nevertheless his learning advanced so rapidly that by his twenties, he was attracting his own following of students.
During the time of Confucius, China was undergoing its transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. This era was characterized by a greater distribution of wealth and the introduction of new tools due to the fact that iron was less expensive and more workable than bronze. In tandem, the prior emphasis upon birth
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