The Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu)

In the long river of human history, if one person can represent thecivilization of a whole nation, it is perhaps Master Kong, better known asConfucius in the West. If there is one single book that can be upheld as thecommon code of a whole people, it is perhaps Lun Yu, or The Analects. Surely,few individuals in history have shaped their country's civilization moreprofoundly than Master Kong. The great Han historiographer, Si-ma Qian, writing2,100 years ago said, "He may be called the wisest indeed!" And, as recently as1988, at a final session of the first international conference of Nobelprize-winners in Paris, the seventy-five participants, fifty-two of whom wherescientists, concluded: "If mankind is to survive, it must go back twenty- fivecenturies in time to tap the wisdom of Confucius." This a man whose influence inworld history is truly incomparable. His sayings (and those of his disciples)form the basis of a distinct social, ethical, and intellectual system. They haveretained their freshness and vigor for two and a half millennia, and are stilladmired in today's China.Compiled by pupils of Confucius's disciples half a century after theMaster's death, The Analects of Confucius laid the foundation of his philosophyof humanity--a philosophy aimed at "cultivating the individual's moral conduct,achieving family harmony, bringing good order to the state and peace to theempire. Containing 501 very succinct chapters (the longest do not exceed fifteenlines and the shortest are less than one) and organized into twenty books, thecollection comprises mostly dialogues between the Master and his disciples andcontemporaries. The ethical tenets Confucius put forth not only became the normof conduct for the officialdom and intelligentsia, but also profoundly impactedthe behavior of the common people. The great sage's unique integration ofhumanity and righteousness (love and reason) struck a powerful chord in all whoattempted to understand his moral philosophy. As translator Chichung Huangcontends, "What ethical principle laid down by man could be more sensible thatnone which blends the best our heart can offer with the best our mind can offeras the guiding light for our conduct throughout our lives?" Ever timely,Confucius's teachings on humanity (family harmony in particular) andrighteousness may well serve as a ready-made cure for today's ills in an erawhich human beings are blinded by force and lust, not unlike Confucius's ownday.Far more literal than any English version still in circulation, thisbrilliant new rendition of The Analects helps the reader not only to acquire andaccurate and lucid understanding of the original text, but also to appreciatethe imagery, imagery, parallelism, and concision of its classical style. Thetranslator Chichung Huang, a Chinese scholar born in a family of Confucianteachers and schooled in one of the last village Confucian schools in SouthChina, brings to this treasure of world literature a sure voice that capturesthe power and subtleties of the original. Vivid, simple, and eminently readable,this illuminating work makes the golden teachings of the sage of the Eastreadily available to anyone in search of them.

About the Translator:
Chichung Huang was Professor of Chinese at Bennington College. He had previously taught at Peking University for three decades, two of which were spent in political exile, before coming to the United States.