The Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean & the Great Learning by Confucius

The Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean & the Great Learning by Confucius

The Analects, literally Selected Sayings also known as the Analects of Confucius, is an ancient Chinese book composed of collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been compiled and written by Confucius's followers. It is believed to have been written during the Warring States period (475-221 BC), and it achieved its final form during the mid-Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). By the early Han dynasty the Analects was considered merely a commentary on the Five Classics, but the status of the Analects grew to be one of the central texts of Confucianism by the end of that dynasty. During the late Song dynasty (960-1279) the importance of the Analects as a philosophy work was raised above that of the older Five Classics, and it was recognized as one of the Four Books. The Analects has been one of the most widely-read and studied books in China for the last 2,000 years, and continues to have a substantial influence on Chinese and East Asian thought and values today. Confucius believed that the welfare of a country depended on the moral cultivation of its people, beginning from the nation's leadership. He believed that individuals could begin to cultivate an all-encompassing sense of virtue through ren, and that the most basic step to cultivating ren was devotion to one's parents and older siblings. He taught that one's individual desires do not need to be suppressed, but that people should be educated to reconcile their desires via rituals and forms of propriety, through which people could demonstrate their respect for others and their responsible roles in society. Confucius taught that a ruler's sense of virtue was his primary prerequisite for leadership. His primary goal in educating his students was to produce ethically well-cultivated men who would carry themselves with gravity and speak correctly.

Confucius [551-479 BC], though of noble descent, was born in humble circumstances. He believed that politics is only an extension of morals, and spent ten years travelling through the various states of China spreading his ideas. When he realised that there was no way of converting the feudal rulers to his way of thinking he returned to Lu and spent the rest of his life there teaching his pupils. D.C Lau has held a number of professorships in the field of Chinese language and literature.

Arthur Waley (1889-1966) is highly regarded for his many translations of Chinese and Japanese literature.

Sarah Allan teaches classical Chinese and Chinese philosophy at Dartmouth College.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781483703541
ISBN 10	1483703541
Title	The Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean & the Great Learning
Author	Confucius
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Spastic Cat Press
Year published	2014-01-01
Number of pages	98
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.