In 551 B.C.（the 22nd year of Xianggong，Duke of the state of Lu），Confucius was born in Changping，Zou County，the state of Lu （somewhere near Mt.Nishan in the southeast of Qufu，Shandong Province.The Cave of Heavenly Spirit at the foot of Mt.Nishan is said to have been the birth place of Confucius）.Confucius was named Qiu（meaning 'hill'），and later styled himself Zhongni because he was born after his mother and father said their prayers in Mt.Nishan（Confucius' Family Mottoes·Explanation of the Name）.Confucius' birthday was on 27th of the 8th month of Xiali（an ancient Chinese calendar）.