YDS READING PASSAGES / TEST 1 64. Soru

-22. CONFUCIUS (551-479 BC )

For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese people have been guided by the ideals of Confucianism. Its founder and greatest teacher was Confucius, whose humane philosophy also influenced the civilisations of all of eastern Asia, by way of many legends spread to illustrate Confucius' beliefs. According to one story, he and his disciples passed a cemetery where a woman was weeping beside a grave. "My husband's father was killed here by a tiger, and my husband also, and now my son has met the same fate. That's why I'm crying," she explained to them. When they asked her why she did not leave such a fatal spot, she answered that, in this place, there was no oppressive government. "Remember this, my children," said Confucius, "oppressive government fiercer and more feared than a tiger.'' In such teaching and with such wise sayings. Confucius tried to bring people to a virtuous way of life and a respect for the teachings of the wise men of older generations. He always said of himself that he was a "transmitter, not a maker". He collected and edited the poetry, the music and the historical writings of what he considered the golden age. Confucius laid no claim to being more than a man. Yet when he died, he was revered almost as a god. Temples were erected in his honour in every city of China. His grave at Kufow, in what is now Shandong Province, became a place of pilgrimage. Though Confucianism is commonly called a religion, it is rather a system of moral "Conduct. Confucius did not talk of God but of goodness. He did not teach about any god, saying simply, "Respect the gods, but have as little to do with them as possible." His attention was centred on making people better in their lifetime.

One way described in the passage that Confucianism spread throughout eastern was by .......... .