Confucius was a learner and a mentor. He contributed to China’* educational system not only through his teachings and ethics but also by promoting education for the poor and underprivileged.
The Zhou dynasty offered education by government officials and public administrators but this was only available for aristocrats, and the general public had no access to education at all. Only those belonging to the elite class had the opportunity to gain a traditional education based on six arts: chariot driving, mathematics, music, archery, calligraphy, and rituals.
In order to break this feudalism and aristocratic monopoly, Confucius set up private institutions to teach students of all social classes. “My teaching is open for everybody without distinction,” he said. He admitted many disciples and trained them to master the six arts. Confucius himself never stopped learning and continued to hone his skills in order to better teach others.
