It could only detract from the real glory of Confucius to dwell on the many extraordinary phenomena which are said by his disciples to have accompanied his entrance into the world. The great Chinese dragon called _Kilin_, who never comes down to earth from his home in heaven except to foretell marvellous events, failed not to appear in the garden of the house of the future hero's father, where he vomited forth a stone of jade bearing the following inscription: "A child as pure as the crystalline wave will be born when the dynasty of Tcheu is in its decline; he will be king, but without any kingdom." [Illustration: FIG. 24.--THE HOUSE IN WHICH CONFUCIUS WAS BORN. (_Univers Pittoresque._)] [Sidenote: BIRTH OF CONFUCIUS] According to the most trustworthy accounts Confucius was born in the village of Ch'ieh in the present province of Shantung in B.C. 551. The only child of his parents, he lost his father when he was but three years old, and was brought up by his mother, who was left with very little money. To quote the philosopher's own words, he could from the first "do whatever his heart prompted, and his mind was set on learning from the age of fifteen." [Illustration: FIG. 25.--PORTRAIT OF CONFUCIUS. (_Univers Pittoresque._)] Before he was twenty he had attracted the general attention of his neighbours through the skill with which he rendered fertile districts which had long been considered barren. He was equally successful in the breeding of flocks, and the land under his care supported thousands of animals, so that the farmers who before could scarcely eke out a miserable subsistence, now found themselves rich and well-to-do. [Illustration: FIG. 26.--A FUNERAL PROCESSION IN CHINA.] [Sidenote: QUOTATION FROM CONFUCIUS] On the death of his mother he had her body transported to the grave of his father, saying: "Those who were united in life should not be separated after death." The two were therefore buried together with their heads towards the north and their feet towards the south. The remains were protected from wild beasts by being placed in strongly constructed wooden coffins, made of planks four inches thick and smeared with oil and varnish. To ensure their preservation as long as possible mounds of earth forming regular little hills were piled up above them. During the three years of mourning which succeeded his sad loss, when, according to a custom still observed, he could do no public work, Confucius devoted himself to the study of ancient usage in everything connected with the death of a father or a mother. [Illustration: FIG. 27.--CHINESE TOMBS.] [Sidenote: A CHINESE TOMB]