China: Stone rubbing depicting Confucius (551-479 BCE) hitting the chime, Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE)

The philosophy of Confucius emphasises personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE).- Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism. It was introduced to Europe by the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who was the first to Latinise the name as 'Confucius'.- His teachings may be found in the Analects of Confucius, a collection of brief aphoristic fragments, which was compiled many years after his death.