# Confucius — The Everlasting Man character guide

> Confucius in The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the great Confucius

**First appearance:** 0007-iv-god-and-comparative-religion

## Who they are

Chinese philosopher, referenced in discussions of moral systems.

## Relationships

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_social_

Confucius and Christ are compared as moral teachers from different civilizations, with Christ's message seen as more transcendent.

### [Buddha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/characters/buddha)

_rivalry_

Buddha's otherworldly focus is contrasted with Confucius's this-worldly ethics, representing divergent Eastern paths.

## In the story

### [God and Comparative Religion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/iv-god-and-comparative-religion)

Mentioned in the context of Chinese religion, where Confucianism is described as a vague theism that does not directly contradict the old idea of the Great Father.

### [The God in the Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/i-the-god-in-the-cave)

Mentioned as another example of a thinker for whom the connection between God and an infant would not be natural.

### [The Escape from Paganism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/v-the-escape-from-paganism)

Confucius is mentioned as representing a religion of routine that starves the story-telling instinct.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/conclusion)

Mentioned as a pagan prophet whose followers hold a vague version of an invisible, impersonal power.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/characters/confucius
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/characters