Roberta Otto, age 14, of Portland, Ore., for her question:

WHO WAS CONFUCIUS?

Confucius was the most influential and respected philosopher in ~ China's history. He lived about 500 B.C., but up through the A.D. 1900s, his ideas have served as the single strongest influence on Chinese society.

Confucianism stresses the need to develop moral character and responsibility.

Confucius' teachings have been made the official state philosophy by the Chinese government. He is honored in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and many other countries.

His real name was Rung Ch'iu. The name Confucius is a Latin form and it means Great Master Rung.

Confucius' conversations and sayings were recorded by his disciples in a book called the "Analects."