As a child, Confucius (551-479BC) invented his own temple rituals, in which he played the priest, laying out bowls and plates. Later he worked as a shepherd, cowherd, clerk, and book-keeper. The name Confucius is a European invention, created by one of the first western visitors to China, the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci. His actual name was Kong Qiu or K’ung-tzu (literally “Master Kong”). All three million living Kongs are supposed to be his direct descendants. Confucius was immensely tall; reputedly 7ft at least. Interestingly, the area of China where he was born (now Shandong province) is the home of China’s premier basketball teams. He wrote nothing down himself: his Analects were gathered and retold by his disciples in the centuries following his death.