Basic Series of National Studies - The Analects

Author: Confucius (Spring and Autumn Period), annotated by Yang Bojun and Yang Fengbin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-07-01
Features: The Analects is primarily a record of speeches, hence its name. "Lun" means to compile and discuss. The Analects was written by multiple authors, including Confucius's direct disciples, his second-generation disciples, and others outside the Confucian school, though the majority are Confucius's disciples. On the other hand, the Analects also demonstrates the unique charm of a-style work. Its language is subtle and profound, its stories concise and vivid, often conveying depth of thought that long essays struggle to express, reflecting character traits and environmental features that lengthy texts find difficult to capture. At the same time, the flexible compilation style of the Analects has significantly expanded its content, presenting Confucius's thoughts, personality, talents, interests, life environment, and historical context from multiple perspectives, which is beneficial for readers to gain a comprehensive and thorough understanding of Confucius and his philosophy. Whether evaluated for its intellectual value or artistic appeal, the Analects is a work that one cannot afford to miss.