What was china like when Confucius was born?

Answer 1

When Confucius was born in 551 BCE, China was in the midst of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, a period characterized by political fragmentation and social upheaval known as the Spring and Autumn period. This era saw numerous states vying for power, leading to frequent warfare and a decline in centralized authority. The society was marked by a rigid class structure, with a growing emphasis on moral philosophy and ethics as responses to the chaos around them. Confucius emerged as a thinker advocating for order, virtue, and good governance amid this tumultuous backdrop.