Who was Confucius, and why has his influence lasted for more than two thousand years?

This biography, written in easy-to-read Simplified Chinese, introduces readers to the life and ideas of Confucius (Kongzi), one of the most influential thinkers in Chinese history. Born during a time of political conflict and social instability, Confucius developed a philosophy centered on ethics, learning, family, and responsible leadership. Although he faced challenges in his own lifetime and struggled to find official support for his reforms, his teachings were preserved by his students and have shaped generations of Chinese society.

Through a series of engaging stories, this book traces Confucius's early life, his years of teaching and travel, and his lasting impact on education, government, and moral thought. Readers will gain an understanding of the man himself, the world he lived in, and the ideas that helped shape a civilization.

The story is told using only 950 different Chinese words. It includes pinyin and English translations and a complete glossary. An audiobook is freely available on YouTube.

Jeff Pepper has worked for thirty years in the computer software business, where he has started and led several successful tech companies, authored two software related books, and was awarded three U.S. software patents. In 2017 he started Imagin8 Press to serve English-speaking students of Chinese.