Ch: Kongzi. Confucius (551-479 BC). The seminal Chinese philosopher of the late Spring and Autumn period. His family name was Kong (Jp: Kō 孔), his personal name was Qiu (Jp: Kyū 丘), and he used the pseudonym Zhongni (Jp: Chūji 仲尼). The English name Confucius derives from the honorary title Kong fuzi (Jp: Kō Fushi 孔夫子). Born to a poor but noble family in the small state of Lu 魯 (modern Shandong 山東 province), Confucius' love of learning and insistence on moral rectitude earned the position of tutor to the sons of the ruling class. Although he certainly desired a more public post -- and later biographies transform him into a successful statesman -- there is no indication that he achieved such a position. Accompanied by several disciples, Confucius spent 13 years (497-484 BC) traveling through several small states seeking a ruler to listen to his teaching. Eventually he returned to Lu where he died in 479 BC. Confucius' apotheosis in the Han dynasty (he was considered a divine sage, omniscient and morally infallible) led to the building of Confucian shrines and the production of portrait statues and paintings. Traditional painting subjects include: illustrated biographies Kōshiden-zu 孔子伝図; Confucius in a philosophical dialogue with Laozi (Jp: Rōshi 老子) during a trip to Zhou Kō Rō mondō-zu 孔老問答図; Confucius lecturing disciples while sitting on a platform beneath an apricot tree Kōshi Kyōdan-zu 孔子杏壇図; Confucius watching a flowing stream Kōshi kanga-zu 孔子観河図. Another group of paintings show Confucius with all or some of his 10 disciples Kōmon jittetsu 孔門十哲 (Ch: Kongmen shizhe). The disciples include Yan Hui (Jp: Gan Kai 顔回), Min Ziqian (Jp: Bin Shiken 閔子騫), Ran Poiu (Jp: Zen Hakugyū 冉伯牛), Zhong Gong (Jp: Chū Kyū 仲弓), Zai Wo (Jp: Sai Ga 宰我), Zi Kong (Jp: Shi Kō 子貢), Ran Yu (Jp: Zen Yū 冉有), Zi Lu (Jp: Shi Ro 子路), Zi Yu (Jp: Shi Yū 子游), and Zi Xia (Jp: Shi Ka 子夏). In Japan, beginning in the Edo period various depictions of Confucius were produced to aid the dissemination of Confucianism. There are well-known portraits by Kano Tan'yū 狩野探幽 (1602-74) and Kano Tsunenobu 狩野常信 (1636-1713), and a Kō Rō mondō-zu by Watanabe Kazan 渡辺華山 (1793-1841).