Page "Confucius" Paragraph 10

The Lu state was headed by a ruling ducal house.

Under the duke were three aristocratic families, whose heads bore the title of viscount and held hereditary positions in the Lu bureacracy.

The Ji family held the position " Minister over the Masses ", who was also the " Prime Minister "; the Meng family held the position " Minister of Works "; and the Shu family held the position " Minister of War ".

In the winter of 505 BCE, Yang Hu — a retainer of the Ji family — rose up in rebellion and seized power from the Ji family.

However, by the summer of 501 BC, the three hereditary families had succeeded in expelling Yang Hu from Lu.

By then, Confucius had build up a considerable reputation through his teachings, while the families came to see the value of proper conduct and righteousness, so they could achieve loyalty to a legitimate government.

Thus, that year ( 501 BC ), Confucius came to be appointed to the minor position of governor of a town.

Eventually, he rose to the position of Minister of Crime.