Confucius
/kənˈfjuːʃəs/noun
The Latinized name of Kong Qiu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and teacher traditionally known as Kongzi.
Did you know?The name Confucius was popularized by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century, who Latinized the Chinese honorific Kong Fuzi rather than directly transliterating his personal name.
Etymological Timeline
551 BCE
Chinese
Kong Qiu
“The philosopher’s personal name: Kong Qiu, traditionally interpreted as Kong the Hill or Mound.”
Late Zhou Dynasty
Chinese
Kongzi
“Master Kong, an honorific formed from the family name Kong and zi, meaning master or revered teacher.”
Early Imperial China
Chinese
Kong Fuzi
“The more formal honorific Master Kong, with fuzi meaning master or learned teacher.”
16th Century
Italian/Latin
Confucius
“A Latinized form developed by Jesuit missionaries from Kong Fuzi.”
17th Century
European languages
Confucius
“The Latin name enters European scholarly and religious writing for the Chinese philosopher.”
Modern English
English
Confucius
“The conventional English name for the philosopher and founder associated with Confucian thought.”
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