Wisdom of the Analects

The Analects is a collection of sayings and ideas of Confucius, a great thinker and educator in ancient China and the founder of Confucianism and his disciples. It's the most important classics for the Confucian school. Written by Confucius' disciples and his disciples of disciples at the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC), the book covers the views of Confucius and the Confucian school on politics, ethics, morality and education. Confucius is the kernel of the Analects. Confucius was at the 1st place of UNESCO's list of world's top ten cultural celebrities. Most of the Analects records the ideas of Confucius and his behaviour, manners and personality. The book also displays distinct personalities of some of Confucius' disciples, straight forward and rash Zilu, mild and studious Yan Hui, smart and eloquent Zigong, unrestrained and unconventional Zeng Xi, all leaving a deep impression on readers. Analects cover politics, education, philosophy, literature and other aspects. It is divided generally into two parts: self- cultivation and the practice of government. It also provides first-hand information for the study of Confucius and Confucianism. Thanks to the extensive influence of Confucius and Confucian ideas with the Analects as their core on the Korean Peninsula, Japan and Southeast Asia, the Confucian cultural circle was formed with China as its centre. The 100 sentences (chapters) in the book are the most quintessential of the Analects. They are accurately interpreted and painstakingly translated and matched with beautiful illustrations. It has proved itself to be a book of top quality for readers to understand Chinese Confucian culture.