Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000006QIC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,768 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

In an age of intrigue and vice, he was a voice of morality and virtue. 2500 years after his death, he is revered as one of the great teachers in history. Confucius’s name is synonymous with ageless wisdom. His teachings are credited with helping spur East Asia’s current "economic miracle". Travel to China’s troubled feudal era to learn Confucius’s dramatic story, from his childhood in poverty and his long road to enlightenment to his years as a celebrated teacher. Leading scholars reveal why his message of "five virtues" was not always accepted by the leaders of the day. And interviews with a direct descendant provide a personal glimpse into Confucius’s legend. Explore the life and legacy of Confucius the ancient sage whose timeless message remains influential to this day.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many myths, not enough Confucianism, September 3, 2000

By 

J. Van Sant "vansaje" (Birmingham, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A&E Biography - Confucius: Words of Wisdom [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Some A & E Biographies are hits, and some are misses. Regrettably, this is one of the latter. On the positive side, there are good visuals, and some useful comments by three experts in this biography of Master K'ung (known in the West as Confucius). However, the narration often states what are well-known myths about Confucius as if they were historical facts. And the video does not discuss Confucianism nearly as much as it should. In sum, this video is not a good introduction to Confucius and Confucianism.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to the life of this ancient philosopher, July 3, 2004

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A&E Biography - Confucius: Words of Wisdom [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When I think of Confucius, I think of some wise old philosopher sitting atop a mountain somewhere dispensing wisdom to his followers, and I conjure up the words "Confucius say" in a horrible Chinese accent, but I could not really tell you what he said. Obviously, I basically knew nothing about this ancient wise man, his life or his teachings. Thus, this video was of immense instructional value to me. Confucius was no mythical being; he was very much a man, one who knew hardship and sorrows but devoted his life to improving the lot of those around him. I cannot say I now have a good understanding of Confucianist thought, however, and my mind questions how so many details can be known about the life of a man born over five centuries before the time of Christ. If you want to study the teachings of Confucius, this video may not be a very useful place to start; if you just want an idea of who this man was, however, it is certainly worthy of a look.

Confucius had a hard life, and he had intimate knowledge of the sufferings of his people. He lived in an era that saw constant warfare between competing warlords and the casting of shadows upon the impressive Chinese civilization that came before. Confucius wanted above all else to change Chinese society of his time and to rescue his nation and her people from the suffering and misery that stalked the land at that time. He was the son of an elderly great warrior and his concubine, and he apparently inherited the unbecoming looks of his father. After his father's death, he and his mother were rejected by the family, but great poverty did not stop Confucius from constantly seeking to learn and grow. In time, he started a school and welcomed students of all means, from the sons of leaders to the sons of penniless workers, teaching the importance of hard work, education for all, and a disregard for class and wealth in the measure of a man. He dreamed of finding a leader who would take him on as his advisor and, in this manner, bring about the great changes to society which he sought. For a time, he served as the governor of his home province and, for a few short years, put his teachings into practice with much success. He attracted enemies, though, and soon found himself wandering the countryside in exile. He kept seeking a leader who could save China, but Confucius' truth did not appeal to those capable of instituting change in society. He died thinking his great mission was a failure, never knowing just how immense an influence he would have on future generations of men and women, particularly those in Asia.

Confucius had his flaws, but he never deviated from the values and beliefs he cultivated throughout his entire life. I would not dare say I have a good handle on the ideas of Confucius' thought after watching this video, but I do feel as if I have some appreciation for the man and for his accomplishments in life. His words of wisdom are timeless, and this video does indeed show him to be a man whose teachings are valid and worthy of attention by everyone, including those of us in the West who, for the most part, know next to nothing about the man dubbed China's greatest philosopher and thinker.