His Followers Were From All Parts Of Society, United In Their Virtuous Character

One of the interesting facts about Confucius is his twelve traveling companions came from all parts of society, including merchants, struggling cattle ranchers, and even warrior types. Despite the fact that none of them were born into noble families, they all possessed a noble character. The devoted followers stood for the political meritocracy and governing by virtue ideology that Confucius felt should guide society.

Confucius' countless disciples and followers later codified his teachings into the Analects, which are a complex system of rules and practices. After Confucius' passing, his philosophical school was carried on by his followers and his lone grandson, Zisi. These initiatives helped transmit Confucian principles to students who later rose to positions of authority in a number of Chinese royal courts, providing the first comprehensive examination of Confucianism's ideology.

Two of Confucius' most well-known subsequent disciples highlighted vastly different elements of his teachings. Mencius and Xun Zi both produced significant teachings in the years after Confucius's passing that elaborated on his core principles in distinctive ways. In time, their writings, together with the Analects and other core texts, came to constitute the philosophical corpus of Confucianism.