The Analects are a collection of sayings and short dialogues of Confucius and his disciples, compiled after his death, probably over several generations from the fifth century BCE. In twenty books, they set out the teachings of the Chinese master on virtue, ritual, learning and good government. They have shaped Chinese culture for more than two thousand years.
Sayings and conversations
Most entries are brief: a saying of the Master, a question from a disciple and its answer, or a description of Confucius's habits.
The book is not arranged as a treatise, but as a gathering of memories, which gives it a lively and personal tone.
The main ideas
Confucius teaches ren, often translated as humaneness or benevolence, and li, the rituals and courtesies that express respect.
He insists on learning, self-examination, filial piety and the example of the ruler, who should govern by virtue rather than by punishment.
James Legge
The Scottish missionary and scholar James Legge translated the Analects into English in the first volume of The Chinese Classics, published in 1861.
His translation, with its notes and Chinese text, remained a standard reference for a century.
Anecdotes
The civil service exams
For centuries, candidates for the imperial civil service in China had to know the Analects and the other Confucian classics by heart.
A teacher of all
Confucius is said to have accepted students of any background who came to him wanting to learn, which was unusual in his time.
Frequently asked questions
Who compiled the Analects?
The disciples of Confucius and their followers.
How many books do they contain?
Twenty.
Who translated them in The Chinese Classics?
James Legge, in 1861.