The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China) 1st Edition

by Roger T. Ames (Translator), Henry Rosemont Jr. (Translator)

27 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0345434074

ISBN-10: 0345434072

Why is ISBN important?

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Condition: Used - Good

In Stock. Sold by Recover Books, Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

110 Used from $5.00

FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

Deliver to France

Turn on 1-Click ordering

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

This item ships to France. Want it Thursday, Oct. 18? Order within and choose AmazonGlobal Priority Shipping at checkout. Learn more

List Price: $17.00
Save: $2.93 (17%)

53 New from $10.00

Deliver to France

Turn on 1-Click ordering

More Buying Choices

53 New from $10.00 110 Used from $5.00 4 Collectible from $39.00

167 used & new from $5.00

See All Buying Options

Free Two-Day Shipping for College Students with Amazon Student

"To quietly persevere in storing up what is learned, to continue studying without respite, to instruct others without growing weary--is this not me?"
--Confucius

Confucius is recognized as China's first and greatest teacher, and his ideas have been the fertile soil in which the Chinese cultural tradition has flourished. Now, here is a translation of the recorded thoughts and deeds that best remember Confucius--informed for the first time by the manuscript version found at Dingzhou in 1973, a partial text dating to 55 BCE and only made available to the scholarly world in 1997. The earliest Analects yet discovered, this work provides us with a new perspective on the central canonical text that has defined Chinese culture--and clearly illuminates the spirit and values of Confucius.

Confucius (551-479 BCE) was born in the ancient state of Lu into an era of unrelenting, escalating violence as seven of the strongest states in the proto-Chinese world warred for supremacy. The landscape was not only fierce politically but also intellectually. Although Confucius enjoyed great popularity as a teacher, and many of his students found their way into political office, he personally had little influence in Lu. And so he began to travel from state to state as an itinerant philosopher to persuade political leaders that his teachings were a formula for social and political success. Eventually, his philosophies came to dictate the standard of behavior for all of society--including the emperor himself.

Based on the latest research and complete with both Chinese and English texts, this revealing translation serves both as an excellent introduction to Confucian thought and as an authoritative addition to sophisticated debate.

Frequently bought together

+

Total price: $28.83

Buy the selected items together

This item:The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China) by Roger T. Ames Paperback $14.07
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) by Roger Ames Paperback $14.76
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Roger Ames

35

Paperback
$14.76
Zhuangzi

24

Paperback
$17.46
Lao Tzu

2,332

Paperback
$6.33
Xunzi

8

Paperback
$25.60
Amitav Ghosh

128

Paperback
$14.36
Samuel Bercholz

8

Paperback
$17.74

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

Feedback

Confucius

186

Paperback
$5.49
Feedback

Lao Tzu

2332

Paperback
$6.99
Feedback

Lao Tzu

A clear, poetic translation of the Tao Te Ching. "The best gift you could ever give anyone," according to Bright Insight.

2333

Paperback
$5.99
Feedback

Lao-Tzu

2332

Kindle Edition
$8.49
Feedback

Jeff Pepper

A wonderful new version of the timeless classic, including a step-by-step translation showing exactly how the original Chinese translates to English.

2

Paperback
$14.99
Feedback

CONFUCIUS

25

Kindle Edition
$13.99
Feedback

Andrian Teodoro

295

Kindle Edition
$7.99

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"To quietly persevere in storing up what is learned, to continue studying without respite, to instruct others without growing weary--is this not me?"
--Confucius
Confucius is recognized as China's first and greatest teacher, and his ideas have been the fertile soil in which the Chinese cultural tradition has flourished. Now, here is a translation of the recorded thoughts and deeds that best remember Confucius--informed for the first time by the manuscript version found at Dingzhou in 1973, a partial text dating to 55 BCE and only made available to the scholarly world in 1997. The earliest Analects yet discovered, this work provides us with a new perspective on the central canonical text that has defined Chinese culture--and clearly illuminates the spirit and values of Confucius.
Confucius (551-479 BCE) was born in the ancient state of Lu into an era of unrelenting, escalating violence as seven of the strongest states in the proto-Chinese world warred for supremacy. The landscape was not only fierce politically but also intellectually. Although Confucius enjoyed great popularity as a teacher, and many of his students found their way into political office, he personally had little influence in Lu. And so he began to travel from state to state as an itinerant philosopher to persuade political leaders that his teachings were a formula for social and political success. Eventually, his philosophies came to dictate the standard of behavior for all of society--including the emperor himself.
Based on the latest research and complete with both Chinese and English texts, this revealing translation serves both as an excellent introduction to Confucian thought and as an authoritativeaddition to sophisticated debate.

About the Author

Roger T. Ames is a professor of Chinese philosophy at the University of Hawaii, and the Director of its Center for Chinese Studies. He is also editor of the journals Philosophy East & West and China Review International. He is the author of several interpretative studies on classical Confucianism, including Thinking Through Confucius (with David L. Hall). His earlier translation of Sun-Tzu: The Art of Warfare is recognized as a landmark of contemporary Chinese military and philosophical studies.

Henry Rosemont, Jr. is currently George B. and Willma Reeves Distinguished Professor of the Liberal Arts at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and Senior Consulting Professor at Fudan University. He is the author of A Chinese Mirror (1991), the forthcoming Radical Confucianism (1998), and more than fifty articles in scholarly journals and anthologies. He is the editor of the Monograph Series for the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy.

From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Series: Classics of Ancient China
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (September 7, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345434072
ISBN-13: 978-0345434074
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 27 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #89 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts > Confucianism
- #148 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Asia > China
- #402 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Philosophers

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Be the first video

Your name here

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

Feedback

Lao Tzu

2332

Paperback
$6.99
Feedback

Confucius

186

Paperback
$5.49
Feedback

Lao Tzu

A clear, poetic translation of the Tao Te Ching. "The best gift you could ever give anyone," according to Bright Insight.

2333

Paperback
$5.99
Feedback

James J Fairlie

2500 years ago Lao Tzu wrote the short verse text called the Tao Te Ching or "The Great Way", founding Taoism. Here the mysterious wisdom is revealed!

Kindle Edition
$7.50
Feedback

Jeff Pepper

A wonderful new version of the timeless classic, including a step-by-step translation showing exactly how the original Chinese translates to English.

2

Paperback
$14.99
Feedback

Don C. Davis

This philosophical novel promotes a partnership of science, technology, and a knowledge-based faith to build a better world by being better people.

Kindle Edition
$3.99
Feedback

Ms Mimi Emmanuel

This life changing one-hour-read cuts through the fluff, and helps you get the best out of life. Start living a joyous, loving life today!

43

Paperback
$9.62

Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features:

See Kindle Edition

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

See all 27 customer reviews

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Mike, Brunswick

Perfect when you have 5 minutes.

May 28, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

There are some real nuggets.

Broken up into many small entries, although it doesn't help continuity it is perfect when you are waiting for a meeting to start.

A difficult read, but, the ability to look up words right in the document is very helpful.

Comment

April 5, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont offer a new translation of this Chinese classic of Confucius. While I am not qualified to comment on the accuracy or integrity of the translation, Ames and Rosemont have explained and offered justifications for their translations quite thoroughly. The result is an informative version of this classic text attributed to Confucius. Heavily discussing the ethics of ritual propriety and the need to be a "junzi" or "exemplary person", Confucius believed in wisdom and the law of reciprocity (the "silver rule"). Clearly he was concerned with preserving a moral tradition extracted from the collective understanding of the past. While parts of Ames and Rosemont's introduction are tedious and could be better written, overall they have made a valuable contribution to the understanding of Confucian thought.

6 people found this helpful

Comment

I can't comment on the translation as this is not ...

November 28, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I can't comment on the translation as this is not my field. Reviewing from Joe Schmoe's point of view.

Ames provides historical context and constructs a framework at the beginning of the book with which to think about Confucius's teachings. The framework is applied consistently throughout this book, making it not only a much more enjoyable read but one where the meaning of translation comes to life. I am very thankful that Ames wrote this book as it has allowed me a glimpse into my heritage.

Comment

March 4, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Everyone should read this book. I recommend taking notes in the sides of the pages to look back at later and also to see how your views change as you move along in the book and think more and more!

Comment

"Confucius Says..." Or Does He?

November 17, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The chapters on the cultural/linguistic problems involved in translating Classical Chinese texts and whether the Chinese ever produced "philosophy" are more than worth the price of this book.
Puruse the sayings of the Master carefully with close attention to the invaluable notes and a different world is opened. This is philosophy, Jim. But not as we know it.

One person found this helpful

Comment

A Very Wise Man

March 17, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The "wisdom" and "patience" in which Confucius analyzed each and every situation was very appealing to me. It causes one to "reflect" on every situation before acting or dismissing any topic that may be encountered.

One person found this helpful

Comment

excellent resource

November 5, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

What an excellent resource for Asian studies in general. The translation is great to compare with Lau et al. And the other material sheds light on previous interpretations of the text and context.

4 people found this helpful

Comment

Gerard S. Murphy

July 14, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you are a University of Hawaii student studying Chinese or Philosophy, you will be reading this. Be aware that while Ames has done a lot of great work in Chinese Philosophy, he is really doing 20th century postmodernism on a Chinese background. After reading this one might think that Confucius belongs to the same school as Derrida, Foucault and Rorty. That is as absurd as it gets. But academics do not make a name for themselves being correct (outside of the hard sciences that is). If they were correct, they would simply answer questions in a way that satisfactory to readers and move on to the harder questions. Instead, they rise to the top of their fields by being wrong in the cleverest way imaginable and that is what Ames has done. So a generation of American students and scholars are being taught that Confucius would be right at home with some 1970's style sophistry. It is actually kind of funny now that I think about it. I guess when you start with the premise that "truth" is a social construct, you can believe anything.

11 people found this helpful

Comment

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)

Set up a giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Confucius

25

Paperback
$16.15
Confucius

186

Paperback
$12.00
Confucius

31

Paperback
$6.89
Roger Ames

35

Paperback
$14.76
Zhuangzi

24

Paperback
$17.46
Confucius

186

Paperback
$15.47

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: ancient philosophy, china history, chinese myths, chinese philosophy, confucianism analects

English United States

Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Interest-Based Ads
© 1996-2018, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates