5 Facts about Confucius’s Name and Titles

As you delve deeper into Confucius’s life and contributions, you will find he was bestowed with numerous honors and exalted titles. As an ancient Chinese sage, he excelled in various fields and profoundly impacted education, politics, philosophy, military affairs, and ethics. Therefore, every title and appellation about him is an acknowledgment and respect for his comprehensive contributions.

Question 1: What is the real name of Confucius?

Answer: Kong Qiu (孔丘) is Confucius’s real name and Chinese name. Kong (孔) is his family name, and Qiu (丘) is his given name.

Question 2: What is the first name and last name of Confucius?

Answer:

In Confucius’s Chinese name “孔丘,” his first name is 丘 (Qiu), and his last name is 孔 (Kong).

Question 3: What are other name of Confucius?

Answer:

In fact, as a well-known thinker and educator in ancient China, Confucius was referred to by various names by later generations and abroad. This reflects his great popularity and the respect and admiration of later generations for him.

The following is a list of some familiar names for Confucius:

Kong Qiu (孔丘) – His Chinese name, also his original name. Confucius introduced himself as Qiu (丘), Wu (吾)¹, or Bifu (鄙夫)².

Kong Zi (孔子) – This is the most common way to introduce him in Chinese. Kong (孔) is his family name, and Zi (子) is an ancient honorific for an adult male, equivalent to the modern term “Mr.”. It can be translated into English as Master Kong.

Kong Fuzi (孔夫子) – a respectful title for Confucius. The word “Fu Zi” is an ancient honorific for scholars, equivalent to today’s “teacher” or “sir.” It is also the origin of the Latin word Confucius.

Fu Zi (夫子) – refers specifically to Confucius and is also the name given to Confucius by his students.

Zhongni (仲尼) – This is Confucius’s courtesy name. In this case, “仲” means “second in rank” because Confucius was the second son in the family. The Chinese character “尼” is related to Mount Niqiu, where his parents prayed, and expresses the expectation of his growth and achievement.

Tips: In Chinese culture, the courtesy name is the second name given to an individual. It is often related to the original name with complementary, contrasting, or relevant meanings. Parents or respected elders typically bestow it, carrying rich implications or expectations.

Kung Fu Tzu (Kung Tzu) –  Kung Tzu is an alternative Romanization of the name commonly known in English as Confucius. lt is not related to Kung Fu Tzu, which is another name for Confucius in Chinese. Kung Fu means “master” or “teacher,” and “Tzu” is a suffix indicating respect, similar to “Mr” elixir” in English. So Kung Fu Tzu essentially means “Master Kung” or “Teacher Kung.” Kung Tzu and Kung Fu Tzu refer to the same historical figure, Confucius.

Master Kong is an anglicized version of “Kong Fuzi” or “Kong Zi,” which are commonly used in English.

Question 4: Why is Kongzi called Confucius in English?

Answer:

Kongzi’s English name, “Confucius,” originates from Latin.

In the 16th century, European Catholic Jesuit missionaries arrived in Ming China to circulate their faith. They found that the Chinese people, especially those educated or in official positions, were deeply influenced by a man known as “The Philosopher” and were applying his teachings to matters of government and daily life. This person was Kong Zi.

When faced with Confucius’s teachings and profound Confucian philosophy, the Jesuit missionaries, under the guidance of the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci, studied and aspired to share this wisdom with Europeans. They immersed themselves in the intricate Chinese writing system and grasped the profoundness of Confucian thought and culture to introduce it to Europeans.

When translating the Confucian classics into European languages, they needed a word to refer to “孔子,” the ‘Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher.’ Since the “official language” of the Roman Catholic Church at the time was Latin, Ricci and other missionaries used Latin to translate the name of 孔子. They chose a popular Chinese name for Confucius at the time, Kong Fu Zi (孔夫子), and then phonetically translated it into the Latin word “Confuci.” In Latin, “masculine” nouns, such as personal names, usually end in “-us,” so the Latin name of Kong Fu Zi ended up being “Confucius.”

This translated name was widely accepted in Europe and gradually spread worldwide. In English, the name Confucius also follows the spelling “Confucius.” In Europe, other languages such as French, German, Italian, and Spanish, the name of Confucius varies according to the spelling and pronunciation patterns of each language, but most of them derive from the Latin word “Confucius.”

Question 5: What are the Titles of Confucius?

Answer:

Sage Confucius (孔圣人): “Sage” refers to the highest moral example and role model. As the founder of the Confucian school of thought, Confucius profoundly influenced later generations, earning him the title “Sage Confucius.”

The Greatest Sage and Teacher (至圣先师): “The Greatest Sage” denotes the highest honorific title, while “Foremost Teacher” represents the highest honor for ancient scholars.

Uncrowned King (素王): This title not only signifies a high appraisal of Confucius’s morality and wisdom. It reflects that although Confucius did not hold a secular throne, his teachings and influence were as broad and far-reaching as an emperor’s.

Eternal Exemplar (万世师表): This title indicates that Confucius’s educational philosophy, political ideas, and moral concepts have had a profound and enduring impact on many generations, making him a role model to be followed for eternity.

Confucius Dacheng (孔子大成): Dacheng means outstanding achievement and brilliant contribution.

Cultural Sage (文圣): “文” refers to culture, while “圣” denotes the highest position, indicating his exceptional contributions to culture.

Founding Patriarch of Confucianism (儒家始祖): This title indicates that he was the progenitor and originator of the Confucian school of thought.

Master of Rituals and Ethics (礼学宗师): This title is a respectful designation for his outstanding contributions to the fields of ritual studies and moral education.

Master of All Under Heaven (天下师): This title is a respectful designation for his profound educational contributions to later generations.