In his later years, Confucius encountered misfortune: at sixty-nine he lost his only son, Kong Li; at seventy-one he lost his outstanding disciple Yan Hui (Confucius's most beloved disciple); and at seventy-two, he lost Zi Lu (a brave and loyal disciple). Yet he did not sink into grief. After Yan Hui died, his father Yan Lu asked Confucius to sell his carriage to buy an outer coffin for Yan Hui. Although deeply saddened, Confucius refused to sell his carriage because he had once served as a high-ranking official, and a high official must have his own carriage and cannot walk, otherwise it would violate the rules of Li (Propriety/Ritual). This reflects Confucius's consistently rigorous attitude toward Li. Reflecting on decades of scholarly pursuit, he said: "At fifteen, I set my heart on learning; at thirty, I took my stand; at forty, I had no doubts; at fifty, I knew the Mandate of Heaven; at sixty, my ear was attuned; at seventy, I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing the rules." Although he said, "If I could hear the Dao (The Way) in the morning, I would die content that evening," in his illness before death he was still unwilling to accept that his political ideals had not been realized, and thus said to Zi Gong (a wealthy and eloquent disciple): "Why have you come so late?"
He lamented his own condition in song, believing his end was near, singing: "The lofty Mount Tai, how it crumbles! The sturdy beam, how it breaks! The wise sage, how he withers!" After finishing the song, he entered the house, sat facing the door, and sighed deeply, saying: "The world has been without the Dao (The Way) for a long time, yet none have been able to follow my teachings." From then on, he took to his bed. Seven days later, he passed away.
Even during his lifetime, Confucius was renowned throughout the world and was honored as a "Sage," a "Worthy Person," and a "Junzi (Exemplary Person)." Zi Gong (a wealthy and eloquent disciple) said his teacher was as high and bright as the sun and moon, and as unattainable as the heavens. Yan Hui (Confucius's most beloved disciple) said that when looking up at his teacher's learning and virtue, "the more one looks up, the higher it seems; the more one delves into it, the harder it becomes." Duke Ai of Lu (ruler of Confucius's home state) once consulted Confucius on governance, and after Confucius's death, Duke Ai composed a eulogy (Lei) to mourn him.
After Confucius died, he was buried beside the Si River, about one li (approximately 500 meters) north of Qufu. Because Confucius had devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching his disciples and had shown deep concern for their lives, work, and studies, a profound bond of affection developed between teacher and students. Thus, after Confucius's passing, many disciples observed a three-year mourning period, weeping together in grief before parting ways. Zi Gong (a devoted disciple) built a thatched hut beside the tomb and continued mourning for an additional three years before finally leaving his teacher's grave. Some disciples and people of the State of Lu, out of remembrance for Confucius, moved their homes near the tomb, forming a settlement of about a hundred households, which came to be called "Kongli" (Confucius's Village). Later, Confucius's residence, lecture hall, and disciples' quarters were converted into a temple in his honor, where his clothing, zither, carriage, books, and other personal belongings were preserved.
Confucius was of commoner origin, a poor intellectual and an aspirant scholar in obscurity, without power or influence, encountering countless setbacks throughout his life. Yet, through his learning, virtue, and character, he earned the respect and admiration of all people—from nobles and princes above to commoners and peddlers below—both during his lifetime and after his death. Sima Qian, the great Chinese historian who lived about three hundred years after Confucius and was thus not far removed from his time, wrote with deep emotion after completing the "Hereditary House of Confucius": "When I read the writings of Confucius, I could imagine what kind of person he was. When I went to the State of Lu, I saw the temple of Zhongni (Confucius), his chariots, robes, and ritual vessels; the scholars were practicing Li (Propriety) at his home at the proper times. I lingered there, unable to leave. There have been many kings and nobles, as well as worthy men, in the world—glorious in their time, but forgotten after death. Confucius, a commoner, has been passed down for over ten generations, and scholars honor him as their teacher. From the Son of Heaven and princes down, all who in China speak of the Liu Yi (Six Arts) take the Master as their ultimate authority. He can truly be called the Supreme Sage!"