Abstract
Despite the wealth of literature about Kongzi 孔子 (Confucius) from early China, there is a curious lack of stories about Kongzi’s last words. A brief survey of last words shows that this lacuna sets Kongzi apart from various early Chinese figures as well as from culture heroes elsewhere in the ancient world who inspired similarly vibrant traditions. Moreover, extant stories set before and after Kongzi’s death explicitly reject a core function of last words in the ancient context, that of anticipating and curating a dying person’s legacy via instructions to a successor. Thus, the problem of Kongzi’s last words challenges the long-standing notion of Kongzi as the founder of a multigenerational school, one whose members recorded, composed, and transmitted his teachings for posterity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
