Analects (Wordsworth Classics) [Paperback]

Confucius (Author), Arthur Waley (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Wordsworth Classics | Publication Date: August 1997

No other book in the entire history of the world has exerted a greater influence on a larger number of people over a longer period of time than this slim volume. The spiritual cornerstone of the most populous and oldest living civilization on Earth, the Analects has inspired the Chinese and all the peoples of East Asia with its affirmation of a humanist ethics. As the Gospels are to Jesus, the Analects is the only place where we can encounter the real, living Confucius. In this gem-like translation by Simon Leys, Confucius speaks with clarity and brilliance. He emerges as a man of great passion and many enthusiasms, a man of bold action whose true vocation is politics. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) lived in an age of acute cultural and political crisis. Many of his observations mark a world sinking into violence and barbarity. Unable to obtain the leading political role he sought, he endeavored to reform society and salvage civilization through ethical debate, defining for ages to come the public mission of the intellectual.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853264628
• ISBN-13: 978-1853264627
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,728,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good edition of a seminal text, January 7, 2004

By 

Frikle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Analects (Wordsworth Classics) (Paperback)

This is a great intro into the philosophy of Confucianism. Although it's hard to describe in a sentence, the main thrust of the Analects seems to be the interplay of several of Confucius's concepts, such as ren (humanity/benevolence), li (propriety/ritual), xiao (filial piety) and others. Confucius was essentially a conservative who placed great importance on social order within the family on a micro scale all the way up to the state on a macro scale. This was a rigid hierarchy. BUT, he was also very concerned with social justice and that everyone treat everyone with benevolence. He does not advocate blind obedience to law or ritual but rather combining ritual/law and benevolence to create a "gentleman" (all these words are extremely poor translations of the original Chinese terms so most of the meaning is lost) as opposed to a "small man" who is only concerned with themselves and profit.

The Analects are a bit difficult to understand as many of them are short, seemingly disconnected sayings many of which require the knowledge of backstories of Chinese history (if you want longer more cohesive narratives illustrating the principles try Mencius). Luckily this edition has sufficient footnotes to get the basic grasp. Don't expect a complete philosophy when reading the Analects - they are but sayings compiled by his students and do not reflect the whole of his philosophy. The text also seems to be corrupt in a number of places - but do expect a book containing much wisdom.

I'm sure there are better translations but this one seems good in itself.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Easily read, an excellent translation, May 30, 2001

By 

Jesse A Whyte (Loveland, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Analects (Wordsworth Classics) (Paperback)

I have to preface my review with the fact that I don't really like Confucius' underlying themes and messages. As a religon or a philosophy, Confucius tends to leave me unfulfilled.

However, this translation by Arthur Waley and the introduction by Robert Wilkinson are excellent. Easily the best of the translations that I have seen, this book is a must have for any serious study of Confucius.