Amazon.com
Despite setbacks, the economic "miracles" achieved by many Asian countries in the latter 20th century have been impressive. This entertaining and thoughtful book invites the reader to consider East Asia's other miracle: its dramatically low rates of crime, divorce, drug abuse, and other social ills. T.R. Reid, an NPR commentator and former Tokyo bureau chief for the Washington Post, lived in Japan for five years, and he draws on this experience to show how the countries of East Asia have built modern industrial societies characterized by the safest streets, the best schools, and the most stable families in the world.

Reid credits Asia's success to the ethical values of Chinese philosopher Confucius, born in 551 B.C., who taught the value of harmony and the importance of treating others decently. This is not a new perception--Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and others have rather heavy-handedly invoked it to claim moral superiority over the West--but the author's vivid anecdotes strengthen its relevance. Public messages constantly remind Asian citizens of their responsibilities to society. To enhance a sense of belonging, civic ceremonies encourage individuals' allegiance to a greater good; across Japan, for example, April 1 is Nyu-Sha-Shiki day, when corporations officially welcome new employees, most of whom remain loyal to their company for life. Citing Malaysia's ideas of a "reverse Peace Corps," Reid sees a case for Asians coming to teach the West in the same way that Westerners have evangelized in Asia for over four centuries. --John Stevenson Book Description
"Fascinating...clearly stated, interesting and provoking.... A plainspoken account of living in Asia."  --San Francisco Chronicle

Anyone who has heard his weekly commentary on NPR knows that T. R. Reid is trenchant, funny, and deeply knowledgeable reporter and now he brings this erudition and humor to the five years he spent in Japan--where he served as The Washington Post's Tokyo bureau chief.  He provides unique insights into the country and its 2,500-year-old Confucian tradition, a powerful ethical system that has played an integral role in the continent's "postwar miracle."

Whether describing his neighbor calmly asserting that his son's loud bass playing brings disrepute on the neighborhood, or the Japanese custom of having students clean the schools, Reid inspires us to consider the many benefits of the Asian Way--as well as its drawbacks--and to use this to come to a greater understanding of both Japanese culture and America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Instant Classic!
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It taught me so much about the East Asian culture and how it differs from how I live in America. I would greatly recommend this book to anybody that simply loves to learn.

Exposes a Different Angle to Exploring
This book is a fabulous read for those of you that are hardcore Japanophiles or for people that enjoy taking things a cut deeper when learning about a culture.

It's refreshing and a quick read.I'd say it would be important to make notes in the book and possibly highlight.There are great points to which you can refer later.

Do yourself the favor and get this book.

iKnow

Not a bad introductionto Japan
T.R. Reid spent several years in Japan as a bureau chief for the Washington Post, and Confucius Lives Next Door is, on one level, about his and his family's experiences. Reid, however, is most interested in the "social miracle" he observes in most of East Asia: the low crime and drug use rates, the stable family structure, the relatively egalitarian distribution of wealth, the successful schools. His thesis is that this social harmony derives from the system of values in the teachings of Confucius, particularly the idea of "wa" or group harmony. If you, like most westerners, know little about Confucius, Reid provides a basic introduction. Interestingly, at the end of the book, he offers an "atogaki" or counter-thesis to his own, observing, among other things, that Confucian values are not very different from Judaeo-Christian ones and that the difference between western societies and the ones of East Asia may be that the East Asians do a better job of bringing moral values to bear on daily life. Whether or not you agree with his thesis, Reid offers some sharp observations of daily life in Japan. The book is a good place to begin if you're planning to travel to Japan. Sure, there are a lot of generalizations, as is typical in this sort of book, but the writing is good and the book functions well as an introduction to Japanese culture.

A feel good book for people who like Japan.
T.R. Reid loves Japan and would never criticize the place.Every short coming is a blessing in disguise.I love Japan, so I enjoyed the book.His description of the schools is candy coated and reads more like a promotional brochure.He says his kids attended Japanses schools.In fact they only attended classes when the international school they really attended was on break.(He confessed to this on C-Span.) Though he mentions bullying in passing, he ignores the many problems plaguing Japanese schools.All in all, an entertaining book.

A Worthwhile Introduction to Japanese Culture
T R Reid, an accomplished American journalist and a fine writer, lived and worked in Tokyo for several years. Most of this book is based on Reid's personal experience with Japanese culture, although there is some discussion of Asian culture generally.

Reid explains how Asian cultures have succeeded socially where the West has not, e.g., lower crime rates, more economic equality and more social cohesion. For example, he tells of purchasing a bicycle in Japan. The cost of the bike is higher than it would have been in the US, because the Japanese store has more and higher paid employees. On the other hand, there is no risk of the bike being stolen, so Reid does not feel compelled to buy a lock.

Reid's observations are interesting and worthwhile, although not necessarily unique. The book is easy and pleasant to read. I recommend it.
... Read more

Amazon.com
There are more translations of Confucius' Analects than you can shake a stick at, but until now none have plumbed the depths of Confucius' thinking with such a keen sensitivity to philosophical and linguistic underpinnings. Following up on his groundbreaking work with David Hall inThinking Through Confucius, Roger Ames has teamed up with Henry Rosemont to put theory into practice, portraying Confucius in light of his communitarian leanings. In a translation that comes off as surprisingly relaxed and colloquial, gone are the adherence to strict rules of propriety and righteous moralizing. Confucius has long been the victim of a certain unwitting Christianization, having been interpreted through the lens of Western philosophical assumptions. Ames and Rosemont scale away these assumptions, revealing a flexible and subtle thinker whose ideas of how to live well in a harmonious community have much to offer a fragmented society tied to reductive atomism and the exclusive exaltation of the individual. --Brian BruyaBook Description
"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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

TOO scholarly
This version may be historically accurate, but like historically accurate versions of the Bible, it is boring because of this fact. I prefer more soul-ful renditions, such as the Penguin translation. Worth having along with another more colorful translation.

excellent resource
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.

Very interesting, historical, and different from anything else
This is a nicely presented book, containing over 325 pages. The
graphics are well done (cover, and layout of the text within, including
the chinese original phrases, for those reading Mandarin). There's a lot
of footnotes in the back, stimulating further research, and backing up
the interpretations contained within, as well as an appendix with more
material, that is intended to add context to Confucius' outlook on
societal relationships and behavioral beliefs.

Next, I had to admit that each page has different scenarios of interaction
among people, or philosophical reflections, suchthat, for some, this
book is a cure for insomnia, no doubt. The fact that Europeans and North
Americans have not been taught to read the Chinese alphabet or the language, further beckons understanding.

Also, the 65 page introduction to the Analects is surely relevant
as the author justifies himself, of some choices in terminology as
compared to other translations and the works of previous tranlators.

A read here on Amazon didn't understand how an archeological find could
bring higher understanding of these classics from Ancient China. Well,
the answer resides in the manuscripts. Much like the Holy Bible was
discovered in several languages (Greek, and also near-Hebraic languages,
for example) the meaning of the texts and the final translation will
depend a lot on on the ability of the underlying language to express
human thought, and the scholar's ability to read it, understand it,
interpret it, and translate it for English speakers, no doubt.

For $10 and change, this is a not a bad work to own.

Sheds new light on Confucius
Confucius has been much maligned since he is perceived as wanting a static rigid society. This translation attempts to show that that is not really true. The translators and editors explain in the foreword that the Chinese language is dynamic, and therefore Confucius sayings does not reflect a static society, but rather a society in a constant flux. It does come out that Confucius will not tolerate revolution, but he does accept evolution. He is not preaching a static society, but rather that all development should build on the previous.
While he stresses the importance of ritual, he also hammers in that ritual must be combined with warmth, caring, and even humour. A more gentle, less rigid, Confucius appears in this translation.
Lastly, I think Confucianism relates to Daoism as Shaolin relates to t'ai ch'i (or Bruce Lee to Yang Cheng Fu): on is concerned with the external, and one with the internal. It is just a matter of which way you chose. Ones you have achieved mastery, there is no difference.

error in the previous review
Daomonkey's reviews exhibit detailed knowledge in Chinese philosophy, and I agree with many of his criticisms. But he has made a small error in his review of this book, which is important to note.

This book is NOT by Hall and Ames, and thus does not show the proclivity towards 'pragmatization' that runs throughout their stimulating work. Rather, it is by Ames and ROSEMONT, a philosopher who has published extensively on topics in Chinese philosophy. You will find little by way of "speculative acrobatics and obsolete wheedlings" here.

The unconventional nature of the translation may seem awkward at first but repays careful reading; Ames and Rosemont provide good arguments in the introduction for adopting them.

(Also, the translation by Slingerland he mentions, published by Hackett, is indeed a fine translation with much running commentary.) ... Read more

Book Description
The Analects of Confucius is one of the central books of Chinese literature and Chinese thought; memorized and studied for many centuries, it has been certainly one of the most influential books in world history. There are many translations of this rewarding but difficult work. Arthur Waley -- the translator of the Tale of Genji, of a vast body of Chinese poetry, and of many other classics of Oriental literature and thought -- brings to this translation his great gifts as a scholar and a writer, and has produced what is without question the best version in English of the Analects. A full introduction gives the social and political background of this work, analyses of key terms in Chinese thought that are prominent in it, and a careful study of the history of the book and its interpretations. There are also full notes illuminating the references to contemporary events and clarifying obscure passages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Wonderful Starting Point in Exploring Confucius
This translation of Confucius' core teachings was completed in 1938, but it remains a great choice for the readers starting to explore Asian spiritual traditions.

Arthur Waley, born in 1899, was a multi-talented linguist, scholar and writer who was part of the famous Bloomsbury literary circle in Britain. The Bloomsbury crew tended to regard him as more of a scholar and translator than a literary light in his own right -- but,years later, Waley's work stands out as a remarkable body of cross-cultural artistry. While working at the British Museum, he learned Chinese and Japanese and began translating classical works.

In translating Confucius, he was more interested in conveying the meaning of the original text than in creating fresh poetry in English. So, his rendering is more wordy, more prose-like, than other translations of Confucius. But, frankly, reading Confucius' Analects as a 21st-Century Western readers, we need all the help we can get. And, Waley is a graceful writer, even if the Bloomsbury crew didn't appreciate the full significance of his work.

I highly recommend this translation among the many choices available for a first reading of Confucius.

Confucius Taught The Golden Rule in 500 BC!
I listened to this book on tape...or I THINK it was this book.What I AM sure about is that it is worthwhile to read Confuscius---Why?His teachings teach us to be "better people".For example, as I wrote above in the title, Confucius taught The Golden Rule:"Do not do unto others what you would not have them do to you."The above maxim, and others, makes reading this early Chinese philosopher worthwhile. When I get this actual book that I just ordered, I'll update this review.But, once again, Confuscious DOES have something to say to the modern world! If you don't buy this actual book, I recommend you look into SOME book with his teachings.

"A proper man is inclusive, not sectary."
THE ANALECTS OF CONFUCIUS.Translated and annotated by Arthur Waley. 257 pp.New York : Vintage Books, nd.Originally published byGeorge, Allen, & Unwin, 1938.

Classical Chinese is an extremely concise andhighly ambiguouslanguage.Since any given line can have a wide range of possible and equally valid meanings, there can in fact be no such thing as a definitive interpretation, and hence, as Burton Watson has pointed out, no such thing as a definitive translation, although Arthur Waley's scholarly reading of this important Confucian classic is possibly as close to 'definitive' as we're ever likely to get.

What we may overlook when considering Confucianism, however, is that it represented an ideology very much like Marxism, one imposed by an all-powerful bureaucracy on a not-always willing population.As ideological documents of the highest importance, since they served to justify the existence of the Imperial system, works such as the 'Analects' were often engraved on stone.

And it's interesting tonote that, in the many popular uprisings which have riven China, the stone tablets and drums on which the 'Analects' and other Classics were engraved often became the first target of the mob's fury. They were regularly smashed and pulverized, only to be re-engraved on new stones when the Mandarinate re-established itsauthority.

In addition, it goes without saying that the Communist Party, which is asit were China's modern 'Mandarinate,' also takes a very dim view of the Chinese Classics, seeing them as relics of a detested feudalistic past, a detestation not perhaps untinged with envy, since the Mandarinate was the most efficient, successful and long-lasting bureaucracy in human history.

None of this, perhaps, need bother the modern reader as opposed to the scholar, since we go to these old books to discover in them what relevance they may have for our lives today, and there is much real wisdom in Confucius that anyone can benefit from.

Arthur Waley's edition, while scholarly, is not so cluttered with scholarly impedimenta as to be unapproachable by the general reader,and is written in a style that remains relatively modern.After abrief Preface, he gives us an interesting and informative 66-pageIntroduction.Then follows his extensively annotated translation, and the book is rounded out with an Index.

Though Waley was undoubtedly a brilliant translator, I was weaned on Ezra Pound's more lively and idiosyncratic version, and although I've read and compared both translations, the lines that tend to stick in my mind are invariably those of Pound, lines such as:

"He said : A proper man is inclusive, not sectary; the small man is sectarian and not inclusive" (Book II, xiv).

For the same passage Waley gives:

"The Master said, A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias.The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side" (p.91).

Both, so far as I can see, mean pretty much the same thing, although Waley is a bit more prosy and takes almost twice as many words to say it.Pound's edition, besides its greater punch, also has the merit of being relatively free of distracting footnotes, and of including two additional and very powerful texts, along with beautiful reproductions of them from the stone Classics.

Waley and Pound give us Confucius as filtered through two highly intelligent though different sensibilities, both of them valuable. My advice would be to read both.For those who may be interested, here are details of Pound's edition:

CONFUCIUS : THE GREAT DIGEST, THE UNWOBBLING PIVOT, THEANALECTS.Translation and Commentary by Ezra Pound.StoneText from rubbings supplied by William Hawley.288 pp.New York: New Directions, 1951 and Reissued.

It is in Pound's translation of 'The Great Digest' that we find thestriking line:"If the root be in confusion, nothing will be well governed" (p.33).And who would want to miss a line that has such a powerful relevance to the world that we see around us today ?

The first stop on the Way
Perhaps the best introduction to the Confucian philosophy. Extensive footnotes and explanations of key concepts. Language slightly archaic but still clear. Wade-Giles romanization.

A classic
A classic in Chinese literature. Arthur Waley is the best translator ofChinese works that I have found. This version of the Analects areextensively footnoted which I found broke up the flow of the reading. So Iread it through first without the footnotes, then read it again with them.A interesting look at Chinese thought at the time. ... Read more

Book Description
For more than two thousand years, Confucius has been an inseparable part of China's history. Yet despite this fame,Confucius the man has been elusive. Now, in The Authentic Confucius, Annping Chin has worked through the most reliable Chinese texts in her quest to sort out what is really known about Confucius from the reconstructions and the guesswork that muddled his memory.

Chin skillfully illuminates the political and social climate in which Confucius lived. She explains how Confucius made the transition from court advisor to wanderer, and how he reluctantly became a professional teacher as he refined his judgment of human character and composed his vision of a moral political order. The result is an absorbing and original book that shows how Confucius lived and thought: his habits and inclinations, his relation to the people of the time, his work as a teacher and as a counselor, his worries about the world and the generations to come.

In this book, Chin brings the historical Confucius within our reach, so that he can lead us into his idea of the moral and to his teachings on family and politics, culture and learning. The Authentic Confucius is a masterful account of the life and intellectual development of a thinker whose presence remains a powerful force today.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Superb Book for Western Readers Who Want to Understand a Major Thread in Asian Culture
Confucius' influence has endured for nearly 2,500 years at the heart of Chinese culture, even though his light occasionally has been eclipsed by various political and cultural movements. InChina, Annping Chin points out, he is simply known as "the first teacher."

Just as the figure of Jesus is reinterpreted in each new age -- and there's vigorous debate among Christians and non-Christians over Jesus' life and teachings to this very day -- Confucius also is the target of continual scholarly reinterpretation.

Chin points out that two large caches of ancient manuscripts that relate to Confucius' legacy, which were discovered in 1993, are sparking readjustments in our modern understanding of that legacy. Plus, after a condemnation of Confucian thought as recent as the 1970s in China, his influence is rising again in his homeland.

In her book, she points out that, once again, Chinese government funding is available for scholarly conferences on the Confucian tradition -- an official move with complex interconnections to the current cultural mix in China. Ping has been part of all of this unfolding reinterpretation, traveling widely in China, examining the new manuscripts, attending at least one of these major scholarly conferences.

That's why it's so important to select a recent book like this, published in 2007, in exploring Confucius and his ongoing importance as a spiritual and cultural figure. Books published in other eras spoke to other historical windows into his life and significance.

Chin's work is respected among scholars and she writes with one eye on this elite audience. But, if you're a general reader in this field, you're likely to find this a very helpful book in understanding the "real" Confucius. Ping works hard in this book to limit her overview of his life, work and influence to hard facts attributable to original sources. In other words, this isn't a fanciful "legends of Confucius" treatment.

This means that opening chapters of the book are a little challenging for general readers. In those chapters, Ping works through some of the more complex political situations Confucius faced as a philosopher-for-hire in the service of powerful rulers in his era. But the middle of the book opens up as a fascinating look of his teachings. Plus, Ping's accounts of his followers' distinctive characters and adventures make for flat-out fun spiritual reading.

Her closing chapters look at some of the ways Confucius' body of work was used -- and reinterpreted and sometimes even abused -- in other eras. That's also a very interesting section of her book, especially for Christian readers in the West who are familiar with the many ways that Jesus' teachings bounced through similar waves of reinterpretation down through the centuries. This tendency to human re-interpretation of spiritual sages seems to be a universal yearning.

This is an all-around excellent book for Western readers -- a superb choice as a book to help Westerners understand a major spiritual thread in Asian culture to this day.

The Sage
A fine book on what is now reasonably thought to be known of the great teacher, Confucius. The author, Annping Chin, writes with clarity and authority on a still revered figure, whose actual life to most is lost in a mythical haze.

People interested in China, ethical living, and governmental theory would profit from this biographical study.

Wisdom concerning how "the superior man" should live
Confucius, whose family name was Kong and given name was Qiu (551-479 B.C.) was a philosopher, humanist, teacher, and political theorist whose ideas were collected by his disciples in "The Analects of Confucius" and elsewhere.

Annping Chin, who teaches in the History Department at Yale University, has done admirable and extensive research into the most reliable Chinese texts, seeking to make sense of the reconstructions and guesswork that has muddled Confucius' memory.

But what can we really know about Confucius, who lived five centuries before the birth of Christ, aside from embellishments and conflicting stories concocted by his disciples? (Indeed, what can one know about Socrates other than what Plato (and a few scattered sources) reports concerning him, or of Jesus apart from what the Evangelists claim he said and did?). Did not Plato, the Gospel Writers, and the disciples of Confucius "put words into the mouth" of their heroes?

Confucius often taught in baffling paradoxes that lead to various interpretations. Moreover, linguistic and cultural barriers may prove challenging for Western minds seeking to grasp the nuances and subtleties of his thought.

In his essay, "On the Study of Latin," the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, "A man's thought varies according To the language in which he speaks." One worries that "something is lost in translation" from the ancient Chinese dialect in which Confucius spoke, and wonders if the Western thinker is on the same wave length as "the inscrutable Oriental mind."

A few of Confucius' aphorisms, however, ring true, as when he is reputed to have said, "Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself" or, as it is sometimes translated (or paraphrased), "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." Some scholars assert that Confucius' "Silver Rule" is superior to Jesus' "Golden Rule" ("Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.") Their reason for such a judgment is that what one person might want done to himself, another person might not want done to him! Confucius' "negative" formulation seems akin to the Hippocratic oath: "First do no harm."

Confucius also said, "The superior man practices virtue. To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue. [They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness." Although, while serving briefly in the political arena, Confucius once ordered that a man be put to death (which, because of the man's criminal conduct, was probably deserved), the general tenor of Confucius' life and teachings is that of a caring and compassionate human being . . . and the world would be a much better place if there were more people in it like Confucius.

On the subject of teachers, Confucius said, "Even when walking in the company of two men, I am bound to find my teachers there. Their good points, I try to emulate; their bad points, I try to correct in myself."

No revolutionary, Confucius had a deep respect for the wisdom of antiquity, and considered his mission to help preserve the world from chaos and disorder. Teaching the virtues of benevolence and reciprocity, he strove to "keep the idea of the moral within human reach."

A surprising result of Annping Chin's revelation concerning Confucius is that he was involved deeply in the rough and tumble side of politics. His plunge into politics was necessary, he believed, for to be "immaculate," one has be able "to withstand black dye." Morality, he believed, cannot be insulated from politics and society.

Chin shows that Confucius was human, a man who made mistakes and could be duped. People did not always trust him, thinking his pursuit or the moral life was futile and Quixotic. Yet he persisted in listening, learning, and teaching the way of "the gentleman" and "the superior man." His lifelong pilgrimage was a quest for living a life of benevolence, kindness, and square dealings with others.

Annping Chin studied mathematics at Michigan State University and received her PhD in Chinese Thought from Columbia University. She was on the faculty at Wesleyan University and currently teaches in the History Department at Yale University, where her fields of study include Confucianism, Taoism, and the Chinese intellectual tradition. She is the author of Children of China: Voices from Recent Years and Four Sisters of Hofei. She has also coauthored, with Mansfield Freeman, Tai Chen on Mencius, and with Jonathan Spence, The Chinese Century: A Photographic History of the Last Hundred Years. ... Read more

Book Description
In the long river of human history, if one person can represent the civilization of a whole nation, it is perhaps Master Kong, better known as Confucius in the West. If there is one single book that can be upheld as the common code of a whole people, it is perhaps Lun Yu, or The Analects. Surely, few individuals in history have shaped their country's civilization more profoundly than Master Kong. The great Han historiographer, Si-ma Qian, writing 2,100 years ago said, "He may be called the wisest indeed!" And, as recently as 1988, at a final session of the first international conference of Nobel prize-winners in Paris, the seventy-five participants, fifty-two of whom where scientists, concluded: "If mankind is to survive, it must go back twenty- five centuries in time to tap the wisdom of Confucius." This a man whose influence in world history is truly incomparable. His sayings (and those of his disciples) form the basis of a distinct social, ethical, and intellectual system. They have retained their freshness and vigor for two and a half millennia, and are still admired in today's China.Compiled by pupils of Confucius's disciples half a century after the Master's death, The Analects of Confucius laid the foundation of his philosophy of humanity--a philosophy aimed at "cultivating the individual's moral conduct, achieving family harmony, bringing good order to the state and peace to the empire. Containing 501 very succinct chapters (the longest do not exceed fifteen lines and the shortest are less than one) and organized into twenty books, the collection comprises mostly dialogues between the Master and his disciples and contemporaries. The ethical tenets Confucius put forth not only became the norm of conduct for the officialdom and intelligentsia, but also profoundly impacted the behavior of the common people. The great sage's unique integration of humanity and righteousness (love and reason) struck a powerful chord in all who attempted to understand his moral philosophy. As translator Chichung Huang contends, "What ethical principle laid down by man could be more sensible that none which blends the best our heart can offer with the best our mind can offer as the guiding light for our conduct throughout our lives?" Ever timely, Confucius's teachings on humanity (family harmony in particular) and righteousness may well serve as a ready-made cure for today's ills in an era which human beings are blinded by force and lust, not unlike Confucius's own day.Far more literal than any English version still in circulation, this brilliant new rendition of The Analects helps the reader not only to acquire and accurate and lucid understanding of the original text, but also to appreciate the imagery, imagery, parallelism, and concision of its classical style. The translator Chichung Huang,a Chinese scholar born in a family of Confucian teachers and schooled in one of the last village Confucian schools in South China, brings to this treasure of world literature a sure voice that captures the power and subtleties of the original. Vivid, simple, and eminently readable, this illuminating work makes the golden teachings of the sage of the East readily available to anyone in search of them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Amazing translation
I bought this version of the analects based on previous reviews.I am only about one-third finished, but I am re-reading much as I go along.This translation has completely surpassed my hopes.I know very little Chinese history and none of the language.Yet this translation, with its meticulous notes, provides sufficient context to make Confucious accessible to anyone--even to me.It is deeply rewarding and satisfying to read.Thank you to this translator.

Clear and Concise
As I bought this book as a gift for my daughter who cannot read Chinese, I compared this translation with the Chinese versions that I have.To understand the original analects fully, most Chinese books provides explanations and definitions.The author has done an excellent job in providing translationsand explanations of the analects at the same time.

Eye-opening translation
This translation is far superior to any other that I have seen. The Analects have always been a difficult and opaque work for me. I have read it several times over many years and have always found at least half the sayings completely incomprehensible. The Waley and Legge translations are dry and dated. Lau and Dawson are easier to read but still leave me puzzled about the meaning of most of the sayings. Some of their notes are useless and distracting, while others merely fail to inform. I was always left thinking of the Analects as a few clever and witty proverbs scattered throughout a strange and impentrable work.

The Huang translation, on the other hand, is clear and easy to read. It is easy to follow the structure of the book. It has just the right amount of notes and they are located just underneath the analect itself--not at the bottom of the page or end of the book where you have to interupt your reading and look for them. The sayings that are easy to understand have no notes. The other sayings have notes that clarify the context and meaning. They are brief and to the point so that they don't get in the way of the text. Things that were impossible to understand are now clear. I find that I am no longer burdened by trying to decipher the meaning. As a result I am now getting to know the character and personality of each of the students, and enjoying their interaction with the Master. This is something I was never able to do before with other translations. Reading the Analects is no longer a chore but an enjoyable journey to a distant, but accessible, culture.

copious notes are a scholars proof.This is a true work
The review above is uninformed.Even if he knows that the main Chinese phonetic system is called pinyin.If one reads the copious notes that back up the research in this translation, one would realize that every character is philologically proven.Whether by the lexicon Shuo Wen, the sea of words or other. This translation is the epitome of scholarly work.There is an unpresedented wealth of information in this book.There has been no one near the ability of Chichung Huang in understanding the ancient cannotations of Chinese characters.He has achieved a far more scholarly level in classical Chinese than any other Chinese scholar and translator that I have ever read.The amount of clear concise research proves it.His work is fluid, concise and true to the original exactly because the translator has the ability to be literal.His contemporaries are lacking in this regard.Ren does translate to mean humanity, as in the founding principles of humanity and rightiousness.Read the introduction please.

A worthy translation
A worthy piece of work, with brisk, clean contemporary language and copious notes. But "humanity" is an inadequate and inappropriate translation of _ren_. Pinyin romanization. ... Read more

Book Description
Born in China in 551 B. C., Confucius rose from poverty to the heights of his country's ruling class. But then he quit his high post for the life of an itinerant philosopher."The Analects" collects his teachings on education and government, the definition of nobility, the equality of man and the right way and purpose of living, ideas that eventually spread to the West and influenced the great thinkers of the Enlightenment. And five centuries before Christ, Confucius set forth his own Golden Rule:"Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
This book, while non-fiction, read like a story, keeping it interesting yet providing fact, thought, questions, myth busters, and acknowledgment where facts are unclear or uncertain.Best of all, an entertainment with great messages for living a good quality, vituous life.

I enjoyed this one as an adult, and looking forward to sharing it with the children & teens in my life, as well as other adults.

Confucius: The Golden Rule
Confucius was a minor government official who desperately wanted to change the government of China.But because of his radical ideas, he was never given the opportunity.He became a scholar who taught his pupils to think.Many years after his death, his ideas were written down and have survived for thousands of years.Tidbits of Confucius's wisdom have even made their way into American fortune cookies.Because little is known of the fifth century B.C. scholar, Freedman makes an effort to establish what information is believed to be fact and what is more likely legend.

The book's beautiful antiquated illustrations complement the text.They are as mysterious as the life of Confucius.I especially like the little details in this book: the quotes from the Analects on the endpapers, the author's note detailing his observations of the celebration in China held for Confucius each year, and the annotated bibliography.

The Life and Times of Confucius.....
"More than 2,500 years have passed since Confucius walked the dusty country roads of China, chatting with his disciples, yet his voice still rings clear and true down through the centuries.Those who knew him never forgot him.Those who came after handed down his sayings from one generation to the next, right up to our own time..."So begins Russell Freedman's brilliant and engaging biography of Confucius, a minor government official who desperately wanted to be a political force in ancient China."Though he offered many bold ideas for reform, his advice was ignored by the rulers of the day.For this reason, he spent much of his time teaching and discussing his ideas with his students."His simple, yet profound thoughts about government, education, and religion were shared with his followers through conversations and dialogues, and finally written down, many years after his death, in a book that has come to be known as the Analects."This slim volume is the one source where we can most clearly hear the unique voice of the real, living Confucius."Mr Freedman's well researched story is written in an easy to read, conversational style and filled with history, mystery, intriguing biographical details, quotes from the Analect, and fascinating fun facts.Frederic Clement's elegant and evocative Chinese-style illustrations look ancient and authentic, and are rich in emotion, color, and detail.Together word and art bring the great philospher and his times to life on the page.With an enlightening Author's Note, and informative sources and suggestions for further reading included at the end, Confucius: The Golden Rule is an entertaining and inspiring introductory biography that is sure to whet the appetite of kids 10 and older, and send them out looking for more."And so, after twenty-five centuries, the pros and cons of what Confucius said or didn't say are still being debated.The reason isn't hard to find.He trusted people to think for themselves.He was always ready to offer suggestions, but he insisted that each of us must find answers for ourselves.And he admitted that he himself did not know the truth, only a way to look for it..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Wrong character being translated.
In the first page, the word for "Shangdi/Shangti" isn't what it's supposed to be in ancient characters. Shang means up or above, but the character being used is its opposite, xia and the second character is something even I, as a Chinese, can't interpret. So, the so-called "Shangdi/Shangti" is actually "Xia something" from the first page of the book. "Xia" means "under, below, etc..." Here by "something", I meant I wasn't able to interpret the second character used, which was supposedly "ti/di", meaning Emperor.
It's a shame that people who don't know Chinese are trying to profit from the language that they don't have any knowledge of. Actually the Chinesefirst used "di" for the Jade Emperor from Chinese mythology since ancient times. But the Jade Emperor ISN'T God!

Well Worth Considering, more than just coincidence
The author discusses the significance of the mysterious Border Sacrifice which had been carried on by the Chinese Emperor from time immemorial until the Imperial system was overthrown in 1911.In this sacrifice, an unblemished bull is given to the God of Heaven, ShangDi (Highest King).Confucious knew about this ritual but did not understand it.He realized that whoever did understand the meaning behind this would be able to govern the world.In the recitations of the Border Sacrifice, the Emperor acknowledges ShangDi as the Creator.The author matches what is reported in the Hebrew Bible with what is written in the ancient Shu Jing and the Border Sacrifice recitations.

Looking for more clues, the authors turn to the earliest Chinese language pictograms.Those that were written on oracle bones, seal script, bronzeware.It turns out that evidence exists that the pictograms were pieced together by the occurances in Genesis.The creation of man is depicted, as is the Fall, and early sacrificial worship near the Garden gates.Since this study is so detailed it is easy to get lost in it if you do not have a good working knowledge of Chinese (which I do not).

However just look at a few of them and be amazed.The word for righteousness is the character for lamb on top of the character for me.This is so, even in modern (traditional) Chinese.It cannot be a coincidence that a lamb covering me is righteousness.It is because God has revealed to us that the Lamb of God taketh away the sins of the world.And to apply that salvation to yourself is to take cover under the righteousness of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ).

For a shorter summary and more examples of what is covered in this book, search for answers in genesis chinese and you'll get a hit for an article telling about the original unknown God of China. Another good book is Eternity in Their Hearts, which tells about how knowledge of God and the events in Genesis were known to various people groups throughout the world.And indeed, when Paul visited Athens he found an altar to the unknown god, which he made known to them in that day.

"Neither Koreans nor Japanese Solved"
That is what I should add to the title if you may.
It has been my life long admiration and curiosity what each of the Chinese characters has consisted of. So when I found this book which a friend of mine showed me first, I was delighted. My curiosity of language in general started when I was introduced to semantics in Japanese. Although I do not believe that there is a spirit in words, I do think they almost do have spirit. If you read this book you will understand what I mean. I am certainly not a linguist but certainly can say something obvious. That is the totally different explanation of or approach to the origin of the parts of Kanji has been taught in Kanji dictionaries in Japan at least (and I am almost certain that regular Chinese dictionaries have the same tendency since Japanese scholars base on them). So, one side must be wrong. If you believe what you read in John 1:1 ~ 13, you'll naturally incline to what this author is about to say. Amazingly painstaking scholarly work there is which you cannot easily see anywhere else especially in the area the book is about. It was my eye opening experience itself which gave me deeper insight not only on the origins of Chinese language but also the origin of the world and the human being. A casual eye cannot see what the book explains as it reads Chinese characters. However, the non-ordinary thinkers such as you may, in turn have a heart warming experience as they plod through this work. There is one useful feature at the end, which is a character reference table you may enjoy.
"Is there a risk of obtaining and reading this book?" you may ask. The only risk I can think of is that you might end up with referring frequently to and reading further the Bible. And, if you may, you will be more curious about your own (non-Chinese) language and the Author of our human language HIMSELF.

Sheer Fantasy
The kinds of analysis given in this book are totally without foundation.

Ethel Nelson's previous book on this subject, "The Discovery of Genesis: How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Languages" was based on modern Kaishu forms, which are often totally different from the original forms, so that the elements into which the characters were analyzed did not even exist in the original forms.

When this was pointed out to Nelson after the publication of that book, she then came out with this one, scrapping most of her previous contentions and producing new ones, using older character forms as a basis. However, the authors are careful to pick and choose forms that support their analysis, even if other forms are far more common. You can find lots of samples of oracle bone characters on the Web. See for yourself. In fact, it appears that some may be made up on the basis of related forms, as I can't find any examples of them.

Also, this book and the previous one share another set of problems. Nelson and her co-authors seem to have no idea that the origins of specific Chinese characters have been well understood for quite some time. They don't even recognize that the vast majority of characters are not simple indicative or compound indicative forms, as they would have us believe, but are semantic-phonetic compounds. They consistently miss this well-know point. It is obvious that they have never read a single work on this subject, but have simply made up their own stories out of whole cloth. This is nothing more than a work of imaginative fiction.

They also don't realize that many characters are known to be phonetic loans. For example, "lai2" ("to come") was originally a character for "barley" or some related grain, also pronounced "lai2". For a while, the same form was used for both. Later on, the "grass" radical was added to the "barley" character to distinguish it. This becomes quite obvious when you compare the character for "barley" with the character for "wheat" ("mai4"), as they have many elements in common. It is simply ridiculous to analyze the character as two people (presumably Adam and Eve) coming from behind a tree. They even analyze the hook at the bottom of the vertical center stroke as "possibly representing a foot...to indicate movement". They didn't even know that the hook is a modern innovation in the brush-written form, and does not even appear in older forms. It's really sad to see people taken in by such nonsensical fantasies.

It's quite amusing to see how Nelson confidently puts forth one analysis of a particular character, like the one for "fire", in the first book, and then produces an equally confident explanation of the same character in the second book that completely contradicts the first one. The fact is that the second analysis is just as baseless as the first.

A final problem with both books is that many of the characters that they analyze did not even exist in the beginning stages of the writing system, which is what these books are trying to deal with. That is, there are no examples of the existence of these characters among the Shang period oracle bone characters--only about 1000 of which had even been deciphered at the time of publication.

If you want to know something about how Chinese characters are really composed, I suggest starting with "The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy", by John DeFrancis. If you want to know more about Chinese oracle bone characters, try "Sources of Shang History" (pretty expensive), by David N. Keightley. A cheaper, but less reliable, source is "The Composition of Common Chinese Characters: An Illustrated Account", from Peking University Press. Even Wieger's "Chinese Characters: Their origin, etymology, history, classification, and signification." is light years ahead of Nelson's attempts. (Parts of this were simply copied word-for-word from my review of Nelson's first book.)

Historic context
Hold on there, dudes. Etymology of Chinese characters does NOT prove that they independently developed a prehistory based on Adam & Eve and the Great Flood. The Chinese alphabet evolved much later than Sumerian. Historians already recognize that trade brought not only the idea of writing from Sumer to other cultures but also their prehistory. All we can accurately say is that Sumerian writing and prehistory influenced the development of Chinese writing. That is not the same thing as saying that China preserved its own memory of the same events. Please do read the book, but with a healthy context rather than a wild eyed, unsubstantiated and unsupportable conclusion. ... Read more

Book Description
The Essential Analects offers a representative selection from Edward Slingerland's acclaimed translation of the full work, including passages covering all major themes. An appendix of selected traditional commentaries keyed to each passage provides access to the text and to its reception and interpretation. Also included are a glossary of terms and short biographies of the disciples of Confucius and the traditional commentators cited. ... Read more

Book Description
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

Confucius is one of the most humane, rational, and lucid of moral teachers, concerned not with arcane metaphysics but with practical issues of life and conduct. What is virtue? What sort of life is most conducive to happiness? How should the state be ruled? What is the proper relationship between human beings and their environment?

In this classic translation of The Analects by Arthur Waley, the questions Confucius addressed two and a half millennia ago remain as relevant as ever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Lun Yu, the Analects of Confucius, should be in Everyman's Library.

There seems to be some confusion here by some of the Reviewers about this translation of the Lun Yu--the Analects of Confucius--of Kong Zi.

The Everyman's Library edition is the respected Arthur Waley translation from 1938. Look inside the book at the Copyright page provided by Amazon and there you will see that this is the Arthur Waley translation. Or you can go to the Everyman's Library website at Random House if you prefer.

For the money you can't beat this copy of the Analects. Hard Cover (Cloth) for the price of a paperback. There may be more easily readable translations, but there is something to be said for having to stop and think about what has been said where a book of wisdom is concerned.

If you only have one copy of the Analects, this is a very good one to have. The Analects are the sayings and quotes of the proverbial wisdom of Confucius and his followers. Literally "The Discussion Over Confucius' Words".

"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them".
... Read more

Book Description
In this terse, brilliant translation, Simon Leys restores the human dimension to Confucius. He emerges a full-blooded character with a passion for politics and a devotion to the ideals of a civilization he saw in decline. Leys's Notes draw Confucius into conversation with the great thinkers of the Western tradition. In all, this volume provides new readers the perfect introduction to a classic work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Readable, useful, rewarding
Those who complain about this translation being "uninspired" are missing the forest for the trees.Ley's rendition of the Analects is a modern, useful, and enjoyable read.The translation flows well and makes sense, and the authors comments are interesting and avoid being scholarly tripe.

Confucius himself would agree that the purpose of his teaching was not to inspire linguistic debate, but to lead the recipient to right action.This book does the latter and avoids the former, and thereby gets my unqualified recommendation.No matter your religious leanings, if you read this book and put it into practice, you'll grow into a more *human* person.As this was the Masters entire point, I'd say this translation is a success.

Servant Leadership Chinese Style!
The importance of the historical use and misuse of the teaching of Confucius throughout the centuries in China can hardly be understated. While Confucian thought was on the outs with Communist intellectuals, others such as Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore point to Confucius' principles as the secret to the Asian economic tigers' success. Leys, the translator of this volume, notes that Chinese familiarity and historical misuse of Confucius prejudices many, but taken without these prejudices, Confucius is thoroughly modern in his application today.

Confucius is known for being a great teacher, but it was politics and government that was his passion. Today, Confucius is a good source for leadership philosophy. Far from promoting authoritarian despotism, the teachings of Confucius point to a higher calling of leadership through service, character development, and self-abandonment - all sorely lacking in Chinese leadership today.

To learn was Confucius' calling. He said he did not have much innate knowledge and studied literature and history to learn (6.27). The responsibility of learning was on the learner not the teacher: "I enlighten only the enthusiastic; I guide only the fervent. After I have lifted up one corner of a question, if the student cannot discover the other three, I do not repeat" (7.8). While that may sound harsh, Confucius practiced what he preached. "Put me in the company of any two people at random-they will invariably have something to teach me. I can take their qualities as a model and their defects as a warning" (7.22).

Learning was to be put into practice; this showed integrity. The first verse of the Analects says, "To learn something new and then to put it into practice at the right time: is this not a joy?" (1.1). Again, "Learning is like a chase in which, as you fail to catch up, you fear to lose what you have already gained" (8.17). Here we see the high value of action resulting from learning and not only study. He valued doing what you say. "There was a time when I used to listen to what people said and trusted that they would act accordingly, but now I listen to what they say and watch what they do" (5.10). Doing what you say is the heart of personal integrity. "A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words" (14.27).

Learning was his way of improving himself in order to govern well. Three major themes surface in Confucius' teaching regarding those who govern: be a gentleman, keep the rites and maintain your humanity. A gentleman was a moral superior, someone worthy of leading. A person becomes a gentleman not through birthright but through learning and right actions. These actions are called ritual, which is similar to courteous behavior, and maintaining humanity which is treating people with respect, dignity, fairness, justice and generosity to name a few of the qualities that Confucius praises. Ritual and humanity develop character in a person, and a person with character is the one whom Confucius calls a gentleman.

Confucius and his contemporary political and intellectual leaders wanted to make a name for themselves. In a way, they could live on through that reputation. "The Master said: `A gentleman worries lest he might disappear from this world without having made a name for himself'" (15.20). However, in making a name a leader must not do evil or act without virtue.

Official position was an obvious choice for ruling and making a name. Today, position is the most highly regarded form of authority all over Asia. Hear Confucius: "Do not worry if you are without a position; worry lest you do not deserve a position" (4.14). Again, "It is not your obscurity that should distress you, but your incompetence" (14.30). This is a powerful lesson for Chinese leaders to hear. Today too much emphasis is placed on leadership position, and not enough placed on competence and character. The results are personal empires, corruption, and incompetence that oppress those without power (position). "Before he gets his position, his only fear is that he might not get it, and once he gets it, his only fear is that he might lose it. And when he fears to lose it, he becomes capable of anything" (17.15).

The wisdom available to contemporary readers goes on and on. I found this book extremely helpful for finding ancient Chinese cultural leadership principles that back up the principles of transformational leadership theory and servant leadership theory. I would like to read and reflect deeper to find Confucian principles that are not yet apart of contemporary models of leadership, but are consistent with it. This is a deeper task.

Recently I have begun quoting Confucius during my leadership seminars. Although, a feel a bit dubious doing so - proof texting largely Western leadership principles with Confucius - the reaction from the participants has been enthusiastic. While many leaders are attracted to Western leadership theories, many also feel these theories are foreign. Many theories based on egalitarian social structure are foreign and are not appropriate for most cultures in Asia. However, some theories, working inside hierarchical social structures, are helpful but still smack of American "one, two, three" optimism. We are sometimes too brash and not mysterious enough, too left brained, in our presentations. Confucius has helped my audiences to embrace the principles I try to get across.

I was surprised how readable, useful and contemporary the writing of Confucius is to me as a leadership consultant. He had a good grasp of humankind, and set the bar very high regarding how leaders should govern from character and justice. He encouraged people to higher traits of humanity, that if followed would make the world a much better place. We would do well to study and apply the teachings of Confucius.

Turned off by translator's comments
I can't read Confucius in the original so I really can't speak to the accuracy of Simon Leys' translation (or should we use his actual name - Pierre Ryckmans?). But without a doubt he feels it is the standard against which all others should be measured, as he constantly passes judgment in his Notes section on all who have gone before and finds each generally lacking in some way. Add to that his efforts to impress the reader with the breadth of his literary knowledge and his decidedly conservative social comments (another reviewer also commented on his anti-gay bias) and I'm left with a translation I would just as soon skip.

Completely unprofessional translation
One of only two things I've ever went to the trouble to return to Amazon.com.I bought this translation because it was recommended in "Confucius Lives Next Door".Unfortunately, Mr. "Leys" goes out of his way to be homophobic in his footnotes.I've heard a lot of adjectives used to describe minority groups in my lifetime, especially since I live in the Midwest but "grim" is a new one (page 126).I am surprised that such a progressive company such as Amazon sells a book that incites such negativity about a minority group.Can anyone recommend a professional translation?

I'm not a Confucius nor a China expert, but ...
I enjoyed this book quite a bit.Granted, I haven't read othertranslations of the Analects, so my rating is for the book itself more thanas a comparison to other translations.

The fact that Confucius livedthousands of years ago is amazing to me ... the things he says apply topeople throughout the ages, and they're full of wisdom.Having read thebook, I find myself trying to be a bit more of a Confucian gentleman than Idid before reading it.Confucius' teachings about humanity and being agentleman span across the ages.

I'm very glad I read this book.Theonly reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because I can't compare it toother translations, and it seems a little improper to rate a translatedbook without comparing it to other translations.But I personally foundLeys' lines to be easily understandable and interesting, even if I have noway of ascertaining their accuracy with the original text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A thoughtful book worth reading
I very much enjoyed the originality of this book. I don't agree with the author's major premise regarding the interpretation of one of the analects, but I found the originality refreshing. This should not be your first book on Confucius.But once you are comfortable in having some understanding of his teachings, at least enough understanding to recognize when Fingarette departs from orthodox interpretations, then you will greatly enjoy this book.I think it is a "must read" for serious students! If you are interested in a practical view of Confucianism, I recommend the book by Robert Canright: "Achieve Lasting Happiness, Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Life."

Problematic but still essential reading.
This book is essential reading for anyone seriously interested in Confucius, Confucianism, or early Chinese thought in general.It is quite convincing on some points, but also very problematic on others.

Fingarette was a mainstream Western philosopher, who said that when he first read Confucius, he found him to be a "prosaic and parochial moralizer."However, he eventually became convinced that Confucius had "an imaginative vision of man equal in its grandeur" to any that he knew.

Fingarette is at his best explaining the importance of ritual in Confucianism.Most of us nowadays think of rituals as useless affectations.However, Fingarette shows that Confucius regarded rituals (from handshaking to funerals) as an important part of being human.It is when we participate in such ritual activities that we are most distinctively human.In addition, ritual has the power to enable humans to work together without the need for coercion.Perhaps if we in the West can recover the feeling for the importance of shared, sacred rituals, we can help give more unity to our chaotic society.

Fingarette was also deeply influenced by Western behaviorism, and this leads to some of the less plausible aspects of his book.He wishes to deny that there is any "internal" dimension to Confucius' thought.If what Fingarette wishes to claim is that Confucius did not think of human psychology the way that, say, Augustine or Descartes did, then he is quite correct.(But then who is Fingarette arguing with?No serious interpreter I know of has read Confucius as a Cartesian.)However, Fingarette sometimes seems to want to claim that emotions and attitudes are, for Confucius, perfectly public states.I think that this is to project Western behaviorism onto Confucius (and behaviorism itself derives what limited plausibility it has from being a reaction to more extreme forms of Cartesianism).

Warts and all, this is still a classic book on Confucius after almost twenty years.If you want to learn more about Confucius, H.G. Creel's _Confucius and the Chinese Way_ is worth reading.For broader surveys of Confucianism, you might read Philip J. Ivanhoe's _Confucian Moral Self Cultivation_, or the anthology he and I co-edited, _Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy_.

Flawed by misunderstanding
While thought provoking, Fingarette often misses the nuances of meaning in the text of the _Analects_, which limits the accuracy of his understanding.Further, Fingarette underestimates the difficulties inherent in dealing with a text which clearly is the work of many hands over a longer period oftime, not a treatise in the western sense.This book is worth reading, butmust be approached with great skepticism.

One of the best sources for understanding Confucius
As an undergraduate and graduate student I have read this book a total of at least five times. Each time, I am impressed by how clearly Fingarette clarifies the important fundamentals of Confucianism that we often forgetin our attempt to exoticize this central Chinese philosopher. A short, easyto read book, it ranks with Waley's "Three Ways of Thought in AncientChina" as one of the first important texts to read to understandChinese philosophy. ... Read more

Book Description

A record of the words and teachings of Confucius,The Analects is considered the most reliable expression of Confucian thought. However, the original meaning of Confucius's teachings have been filtered and interpreted by the commentaries of Confucianists of later ages, particularly the Neo-Confucianists of the Song dynasty, not altogether without distortion.

In this monumental translation by Professor D. C. Lau, an attempt has been made to interpret the sayings as they stand. The corpus of the sayings is taken as an organic whole and the final test of the interpretation rests on the internal consistency it exhibits. In other words,The Analects is read in the light ofThe Analects.This results in a truer understanding of Confucius' thought than the traditional interpretation and paves the way for a re-assessment of its importance in the history of Chinese thought and its relevance to the present day world.

This volume also contains an introduction to the life and teachings of Confucius, and three appendices on the events in the life of Confucius, on his disciples, and on the composition ofThe Analects.

Customer Reviews (7)

Nice Set-Up, Old Translation
While 'Penguin Classics' paperbacks are generally some of the best on the market, the Analects themselves are, in this case, a bit out a date.

Better translations have been made, in my opinion. However, the prose itself is well-styled and clearly separated. Concise and easy to understand. The fluency of the book is what seems most troubling.

Nice philosophy
It's amazing how after so many years Confucius thoughts are still important. Here you can find the basis for most of the later philosophists, including some universal principles of most religions. Even though it is not easy to read, with a little effort is a book to enjoy.

I, for one, liked the introductory comments
I guess, there is not much point in buying this book for the text of Lunyu itself: it is available in full on the Internet (for example at Wengu: http://afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=intro - in the Chinese original, two English - including Lau's - and one French translation) but it is the introduction and adjoining commentaries that are of value. In this respect, I found D.C.Lau's work quite pleasing. He explains the main terms and how they hang together, illustrates his arguments with quotations from the actual Analects and tries his best to relate Confucius' philosophy to suitable analogues in the Western tradition. I am no China-expert, so this helped a lot. The book also has a post-script outlining Kong-zi's life and a short piece on the individual disciples and friends that Confucius converses with in the book. I think there is $9 of value (or whatever the price) in this book.

Needs Repeated Readings
Filled with totally obfuscated phrases like, "The Kuan-chu Ode is lively but not licentious, plaintive but not harrowing," are gems like, "Po I and Shu Ch'i never remembered old injuries, and therefore their enemies were few." The thing about it, is that I read it cover to cover. Clearly, this deep and old wisdom is best taken in small bits for not many words are wasted.Also, the Lionel Giles translation I read was weak on supplemental commentary so I really felt like I needed a more knowledgeable guide as I was reading. Perhaps the Norton version would have better annotations then the beautiful Easton Press version from my library. It is clearly a five star book, but I think I only got about three stars out of it. Most certainly a book to read again, and again and again.

Quality of printing
The quality of printing of the book (new) I received was rather poor.I kept it just because I didn't want to go through the trouble of returning it. ... Read more

Book Description

The teachings of the great Chinese philosopher Confucius has had as great an impact on the culture of the Far East as The Bible has had on that of West. As they are presented here, The Teachings of Confucius consists of The Analects, The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean.

The Analects is the most important of the teachings of Confucius. It is a collection of speeches and discussions between Confucius and his various disciples that illustrate his precepts: that anyone, regardless of his station in life, could become a superior man by living a virtuous life.

The Great Learning is a protocol for living, even the humblest actions of everyday living. It is embodied by the practice illustrated by the Seven Steps.

The Doctrine of the Mean deals with the means of achieving perfect virtue by following the middle way. It is a Heavenly prescription of the golden path by which learning and teaching ultimately unfold into perfect virtue.

Like other great teachers, Confucius advocated action based on empathy; on practicing The Golden Rule by only doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. His aim was to improve the value and quality of life for all mankind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

nothing special
The works of Confucius cannot be denied their place in history or their importance to China and surrounding countries, but this translation should not be considered a good example of such an important work.

Not being a scholar on the subject, I can only offer a layman's insight; the poor formatting, slack editing and general sloppiness of this book is a substantial letdown. The translation itself is less accessible to that of other translations I have read/own, but offers some interesting thoughts for comparison with other versions. As a starter for the novice, I wouldn't recommend it. That being said, it's one saving grave is the fact that within one book, you get not only the Analects, but also The Doctrine of the Mean and The Great Learning, which ALMOST make it worth buying. Almost. Two stars for the added works.

For a good translation of the seminal Confucian works, look elsewhere says I.

One of the Most Important Books in the History of the World

This book, comprising all the writings of the great Chinese sage Confucius, is one of the most important books in the history of the world.It has made an indelible impression on the philosophy of the East and intimately affected the philosophy of the West.

If Confucius had not existed, the Chinese would have had to invent him.He supplied the benchmarks by which the Chinese people have measured morality for almost all of recorded history.His view of morality, independent of religion, gave mankind one of its first purely rational moral philosophies.Confucius, for the first time, gave mankind a code of behavior based on virtue for the sake of virtue and not on retribution.

The details of the society at the time in which Confucius lived are reflected in his proscriptions, but it takes only a little imagination to apply the underlying principles to this age.His writings show that true morality is timeless and that the character of mankind has changed little over the millennia. ... Read more

Book Description
A deluxe paperback edition: Thomas Cleary's brilliant translation of the sayings of Confucius presented in the order of the 64 classic I Ching hexagrams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not just fortune cookie wisdom...
In his book on 'The Essential Tao', Thomas Cleary presented a wonderful picture of one of the dominant strands of Asian wisdom, one that has intrigued and fascinated people in the West in the past few generations. Cleary is one of the foremost scholars of ancient Chinese and Japanese. Mostly likely, if you have read a copy of ancient Chinese classic 'The Art of War' (a text widely popular, from historians and military strategists to corporate raiders and managers), it has been one of Cleary's translations.

Following the success of the book on the Tao, Cleary turned to another pillar of ancient Chinese thought, and developed this further volume in the 'Essentials' series, The Essential Confucius, the heart of Confucius' teachings in authentic I Ching order.

Confucius is a confusing character to classify. He does not fit the characterisation of the typical religious leader. He certainly did not mean to found a religion. Confucius was an educator, a social critic, a politician, and philosopher.

'"The Analects of Confucius" are a basic source for a wide range of advice on human affairs--from governing nations and managing enterprises to dealing with society and getting along with others.'

Confucius is much more than the author of fortune-cookie proverbs. In this work, Cleary has set forth the sayings of Confucius in the order of the sixty-four classic I Ching hexagrams. Many of these sayings are reduced (and likewise dismissed) as fortune-cookie sayings; however, taken together with the commentaries of Confucius, these give profound insight into the human condition. The I Ching, or literally, Book of Change, is a book which Confucius studied and promoted. Thus, to use it as a guide to Confucius' own writings is appropriate and authentic.

Confucius tried to stimulate people into original thinking, into independent thinking. It is ironic that so many times in history that original thinking has been suppressed in favour of Confucian purity -- a perennial danger in any religion.

An example of Cleary's technique is in order:

Book of Change

Good people examine themselves and cultivate virtue

- Confucius said, 'Study as though you will not reach, as if you may lose it.' (8:17)

- Confucius said, 'The virtue of balanced normalcy is consummate, it seems, but it has been scarce among the people for a long time.' (6:29)

Cleary presents the I Ching, the setting of Confucius proverb, and then various commentaries upon it. Through the sixty-four sayings and commentaries, one gets a sense of exegesis similar in character to Mishnah and Talmud as well as various Christian commentators.

Confucius above all believed in the responsibility of the learned to the ignorant, the powerful to the weak, and the wealthy for the poor. Each individual is entrusted with potential to serve the greater good of all, not just himself or herself. These are words that are worthy hearing and elevating, and not dismissing as after-dinner quips.

May your reading be truly enlightened in the virtues of humanity, justice, courtesy and wisdom.

What was he thinking?
Presents the Analects "in authentic I Ching order," an absurddecision which just means that any given passage is practically impossibleto find. (In fact, a number of passages are left out, and at least one isincluded twice.) Contemporary language, occasionally clumsy and rarelylively. Pinyin romanization. ... Read more

Product Description
This detailed study of the lives and teachings of Confucius and Socrates compares how and what they taught in order to help others to become wiser. The appendix includes English translations of ancient texts describing their teaching in action. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A philosophical Confucius
Perhaps the best study of Confucius' thought available. There is a very detailed study of all the key terms in the Analects, with an emphasis on the capacity of the individual Confucian to use his better judgment in specific situations. In other wordsConfucius does not recommend blind obedience to the rules of etiquette (Li). The book also includes an in-depth comparison with Western philosophy, even post-modern. One of the authors, Roger Ames, has also recently written a splendid translation of the Analects together with Henry Rosemont. Both of these books are musts for a deeper understanding of the Analects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Love it.
Easy to read and understand. For those who like to know more about Confucious philosophy but dont know where to start, pick this book.
This book contains all the basic philosophy of the great master.

Start Here
Just getting started on your desire to understand eastern philosophies?Have you stood at the bookstore for hours pouring over where to start and what to buy?

Any of this authors books are a wonderful place to start. The reason?Because these books are all about the title subject in a nutshell, easy to read as a comic book, the story lines and illustrations are wonderful, and after you read this as well as all the other books by Tsai, you will have a great, well rounded start on your path and will know what you want to study more deeply!

To add, when others ask you about your interest in eastern philosophy, you can get them started here as well, because these books are fun, consise,and you know they will enjoy them over and over again!

Helps keep things straight
One of the best things about this book is it puts a face on Confucius and, more importantly, his disciples. It's difficult to read The Analects (which this book uses a few sayings from) and keep straight who's who; this book helps a lot. The last section with a brief bio on a few of the disciples is fantastic. I can find no other source to compare to this. Now when I read The Analect I see the faces from this book when different people are mentioned. My only complaint is that different translations of Confucius' work seem to use slightly different names then those used in this book. It can be a bit confusing when this book is the first one you read, but I would still HIGHLY recommend it.

A Great Introduction to Confucianism!
The Cartoon Chinese Philosophy books of this series interest me for tworeasons: I like Chinese History and I have to teach it to high schoolkids.

On a personal level I enjoy reading through these books and find itmuch more useful than some of the straight translations even though theymay be more complete and more pleasing to academics.In addition to theConfucius book, I have enjoyed both Daoist books and the version of the Artof War.

As a teacher, I like this book even better.New York Staterequires high school kids to have 2 years of world history.In this newpolitical correct world, world history is no longer dominated by Europe. In fact, must of the New York State exam is about Asia and Africa.ThusConfucianism is a very important concept to teach.

Filial Piety, theconcept of order and relationships, and the 5 Confucianian relationshipsare extremely important.But they are not fun things to the averageteenager.There are many lessons we can get from Confucius as adults, forkids its a bit harder.However, these comic books make teaching Confuciusso much easier and effective.The kids like to read them and they get somuch more from them.

So in short, yes this is not the complete Confucius. But for anyone who wants to read a visually pleasing edition or teachesthis is quite good.

A Great Starting Book... and Wonderful Keepsake
This book was wonderful!While I especially recommended it for beginners who are new to the teachings of Confucius, I know this book will surely be interesting to anyone.The first time I picked this comic book up, I readthrough 60 pages without putting it down again.The first section of thebook is about the events in Confucius' life, while the second section dealswith the Analects. Although I'm just a beginner to the teachings ofConfucius, these comics have definitely captured my interest, and left mewanting to know more about Confucius' wisdom and philosophy. The cartoonsgive you various little snippets of Confucius' ideology, and leave youhighly interested in learning more on each topic.I'm glad I started offwith this book. Now I'm reading more comprehensive books on Confucianism;however, I will always have this little comic book to pull of the shelf andflip through.... time and time again. ... Read more