This article analyses the development of Confucius' thought as a three stages process. In the first section, I divide Confucius' life story into three parts, in which several key events form the background to the development of his thought. In particular, I will focus on the role of ”zhingming”(正名) in Confucius' life. In the second part, I will draw on Confucius' personal statements and those of his circle of Confucian disciples to show how the development of Confucius' thought can be divided into three stages. These stages can be interpreted dynamicity as a developmental succession. On the basis of these analyses of stages, I will point out the significance of the development of Confucius' thought.