Living in turbulent times, Confucius saw it as his duty to carry out social reforms and bring benefits to the masses. He held in esteem an ideal world and a moderately comfortable society; proposed the selecting of persons of virtue and capability for government, taking common people as the foundation, reducing taxes and forced labor,upholding average property and creating a political ideology with "benevolent government" as its core.

Allow all people to have education regardless of their family background. A man of virtue should never degrade himself to be a mere tool. Only a benevolent person knows who is to be loved and who is to be rejected. A gentleman attaches priorities to principles;while a mean person, material gains. Never meddle in affairs that do not fall within your responsibilities. Administration cannot be effective if the government is not held in high regard among the people.

PREFACE
CONFUCIUS' LIFE
The Decline of His Family and Tribulations of His Youth
Assiduous Self-study and Self-exertion in His Youth
Teaching While Learning and Working Hard in Middle Age
Entering Politics in Lu
Drifting from Place to Place through Various States
A Wretched Life in Old Age with Lofty Ambitions Unfulfilled
CONFUCIUS' COMMENTS AND WORKS
Tianxia Datong (A Perfect World) Confucius' Political Doctrine
"The Be nevolent Care for People"-- Confucius' Ethical Doctrine
"Youjiaowulei" (Education for All Regardless of Family Background)——Confucius' Pedagogical Doctrine
Doctrine of the Mean Confucius' Philosophical Doctrine
Confucius' Economic Ideas
CONFUCIUS AND HIS IDEOLOGICAL
CONTRIBUTION
Confucius' Contributions
The Positive Historical Role of Confucianism
THE CONFUCIAN DOCTRINE OVERSEAS
In the Korean Peninsula, Japan and Vietnam
Southeast Asia
In Europe and the Americas
CONCLUDING REMARKS
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
I A Chronicle of Confucitis' Life
II Selected Quotations of Confucius
INDEX