The Essential Confucius: The Heart of Confucius' Teachings in Authentic I Ching Order (Hardcover)

~ (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Cleary presents the core teachings of the great Chinese philosopher, educator, and social critic in a convenient, easy-to-read format. Sayings from Confucius's Analects, or collection of aphorisms, are arranged in small groups by topic following his commentaries on the I Ching, or Book of Changes, the most profound of the Chinese classics. These remarks, which were incorporated into the I Ching itself, afford, as Cleary says, "the most convenient lens through which to view the ideas of Confucius systematically." This elegant organization makes it simple for the reader to consult the great sage readily on the wide variety of subjects with which he was concerned--including morality, etiquette, diplomacy, and social responsibility. Cleary's translation captures all the simplicity and directness of Confucius's eminently practical approach to life: "Be dutiful at home, brotherly in public; be discreet and trustworthy, love all people, and draw near to humanity. If you have extra energy as you do that, then study literature." The introduction provides solid philosophical and historical background, and notes on each of the 64 sections provide further insight into the subtleties of Confucian wisdom. --Uma Kukathas

Product Details

• Hardcover: 179 pages
• Publisher: Book Sales (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785809031
• ISBN-13: 978-0785809036
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #476,962 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to be a human being, September 2, 1998

By A Customer

This is an amazing book. It's terse and every sentence is a jewel. Reading this, one sees why Confucius is regarded a sage. He understands human nature so well. Why don't we teach Confucianism in school? Our leaders would benefit greatly from reading this book. Here's a nice quote from the man, "When you see wise people, think of becoming equal to them. When you see unwise people, reflect inwardly on yourself."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice start, but vastly understated..., February 6, 2001

By	"great_spartacus" (the land of seeking) - See all my reviews

I found 'Essential Confucious' to be insightful, but grossly incomplete. I was surprised to see how little content was amassed by Cleary. The Analects are a rich source of insight, and this book simply does not do it justice. Some of the passages chosen I would not have put forth either, considering the nature of the book's purpose. A lot of space is wasted, which could have contained many more of Confucious' truths.

On the other hand, I do think that this is an excellent place to begin your Confucian search. If you just need a little prod or poke of his truths, then this is a nice, concise handbook. Nothing, however, can be substituted for the full Analects.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Timeless wisdom of Confucius, December 4, 2001

By	Kevin MacNeel (USA) - See all my reviews

Few ancient philosophical teachings are powerful enough to escape obsoleteness and retain the power that they had when they were first taught. Confuciusicianism's didactic philosophy is one of these true classics. The timeless quality of its teachings is made accessible for the English reader in the book The Essential Confucius arranged and translated by Thomas Cleary. Cleary has arranged by topic, Confucian aphorisms from the Book of Change and Confucius's Analects to enhance the readers understanding of Confucius's philosophy as a whole. Through Cleary's lucid translations and his skillful weaving of the two different texts of Confuciusianism the reader is able to heuristically grasp that the purpose and means by which Confucius wished to ameliorate society.
The book consists of sayings from the Book of Change that are complimented by the dialogues from Confucius's from the Analects. Although these two works are from different authors, Confucius's Analects was heavily influenced by The Book of Change and these two works meld together in Cleary's fluid arrangement. Thomas Cleary assists the reader in the understanding of the main elements of Confucianism by providing notes in the back of the book and a short writing explaining the historical context of the two works in the introduction.