The Analects: A Classic Collection of Chinese Literature

Author: Zhang Yanying Translated and Annotated
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: This book is an important classic of ancient Chinese Confucianism, a record of the words and deeds of Confucius by his disciples and their successors. This book was approximately compiled in the early period of the Warring States period. As it was written by many hands, the specific author is difficult to determine, but it comprehensively reflects Confucius's thoughts. This book consists of two main parts: the main text and annotations. The main text is selected from Yang Bojun's "Translation and Annotation of the Analects" and references other versions for collation. The Analects follow the format of compiling chapters into a book, with relatively weak relationships between chapters. Therefore, the chapter introduction first explains the division of chapters, then explains the main meaning of each chapter, and if the content of a chapter has a relatively concentrated theme, it is also explained. The Analects is a collection of dialogues between Confucius and his disciples, one of the important classics of Confucianism. The compilation work was completed by Confucius's disciples and their successors. The origin of the name "Analects," as stated in Ban Gu's "Book of Han·Bibliography," is: "The Analects refers to the words and deeds of Confucius responding to his disciples and contemporaries, as well as the conversations between disciples that were heard by the Master. At that time, each disciple had their own records. After the Master's death, his disciples compiled and edited them together, hence the name 'Analects.'" This explanation is largely credible. The original records were compiled by many hands, and the final compilation should have been completed in the early period of the Warring States period, primarily led by Zeng Can's disciples.