Half of the Analects to learn how to be a person

Author: Tong Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Confucianism and the Analects
The value of the Analects, regardless of any era or region, as long as its original meaning is not distorted, remains irreplaceably timeless. For those who study it diligently, reflect carefully, discern clearly, and put their insights into practice, they will surely find self-affirmation. — Master Nan Huaijin, a renowned scholar of traditional Chinese culture
Although the Analects represents the classic of feudal Chinese culture, it is essential for any Chinese to read this book to understand the roots of Chinese culture and ethics. Its teachings on benevolence (ren) and its theories on education are treasures for all of humanity. The Analects is written with precise wording, making it also a literary work worth reading. — Contemporary writer Li Zun
In the process of modernization, we must recast our national spirit, and to forge this spirit, we cannot be separated from the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Throughout China's thousands of years of history, no thinker or writer has been unaffected by this book. — Contemporary scholar Ye Lang
Without truly understanding, comprehending, and mastering the Analects, one cannot deeply grasp the principles of being a person. Confucianism starts from the basic ethics of humanity, always focusing on the norms of daily life and methods of learning, then deriving many principles of how to be a person, manage a family, a state, and even the world. Therefore, some people vividly summarize Confucianism as "self-cultivation, family harmony, state governance, and world peace." Whether Confucianism can still play a role in "governing the state and pacifying the world" today, I seriously doubt it. However, I firmly believe that Confucianism can still contribute to "self-cultivation and nurturing one's nature." — Author
The main body of this book consists of three parts: First, the authentic original text of the Analects, presenting the ancient classical Chinese of over two thousand years ago to the readers. Second, a modern Chinese translation of the Analects that is easy to understand, helping readers overcome the linguistic barrier of two millennia and grasp the meaning of the Analects quickly and efficiently. Of course, this translation is only a reference for readers to understand the original text, not a definitive answer to classical Chinese translation. We believe that readers of this book are primarily not studying classical Chinese but rather seeking to understand what the Analects teaches. Therefore, we have omitted explanations of related classical Chinese terms. Third, based on the author's half-century of life experience and reflections on studying the Analects, a dialectical analysis and commentary are provided on specific content of the Analects. This part is less about offering a standard answer for readers and more about providing a way to learn and understand the Analects, allowing readers to discover: "《》."