Zengzi (Chinese:曾子; literally: "Master Zeng", 505–435 BC), born Zeng Shen or Zeng Can (曾參), courtesy name Ziyu (子輿), was an influential Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius. He later taught Zisi (Kong Ji), the grandson of Confucius, who was in turn the teacher of Mencius, thus beginning a line of transmitters of orthodox Confucian traditions. He is revered as one of the Four Sages of Confucianism.