The great Chinese philosopher was the first man to develop a system of beliefs synthesizing the basic idea of the Chinese people. His philosophy, based on personal morality and the concept of a government that served its people and moral example, permeated Chinese life and cultural for well over two thousand years, and has greatly influenced a substantial portion of the world's population. Confucius was born about 551 B.C., in the small state of Lu, which is in the present province of Shantung, in northeastern china. His father died when he was quite young, and Confucius and his mother lived in poverty. As a young man, the future philosopher served as a minor government official, but after several years he resigned his post. He spent the next sixteen years teaching, attracting a considerable number of disciples to his philosophy. When he was about fifty years old, he was awarded a high position in government of Lu; however, after about four years, enemies at court brought about his dismissal, and indeed, his exile from the state. He spent the next thirteen years as an itinerant teacher, and then returned to his home state for the last five years of his life. He died in 479 B.C. Confucius is often credited as the founder of a religion, but this description is inaccurate. He very rarely referred to the Deity. Refused to discuss the afterlife, and avoided all forms of metaphysical speculation. He was basically a secular philosopher, interested in personal and political morality and conduct. The two most important virtues, according to Confucius, are Jen and li, and the superior man guides his conduct by them.