Ancient China, just like the rest of the world, was shaped by people. Everyone from the lowest class to the highest nobles played an important part, but some had an especially significant role in changing history’s path. One of these people was a man named Kong Qui, or, as he’s better known in the Western world, Confucius. He was born in 551 B.C. in the Lu state of China. Within his lifetime, he would become famous (or infamous, depending on who you asked) for his teachings and ideas that changed China irreversibly.