Analects (Legge) · Confucian Analects
Confucianism · Translated by James Legge, The Chinese Classics, vol. 1 (1861)
Confucian Analects
The Analects (Lunyu, ‘collected sayings’) record the sayings and conversations of Confucius (551–479 BCE) and some of his disciples, compiled by later generations of his followers over the following two centuries or so. In twenty short books they set out the ideal of the superior man (junzi), formed by benevolence, propriety, filial piety and learning, and counsel rulers to govern by moral example rather than by punishment. The Analects became one of the Four Books on which Chinese education and the imperial civil-service examinations rested for some six hundred years. James Legge, the Scottish missionary and sinologist, published this translation in Hong Kong in 1861 as the first volume of The Chinese Classics. Each book takes its title from its opening words, given here in Legge’s romanisation; his notes and the Chinese text are not included.
- Book I Hsio R16 ch.
- Book II Wei Chang24 ch.
- Book III Pa Yih26 ch.
- Book IV Le Jin26 ch.
- Book V Kung-ye Ch’ang27 ch.
- Book VI Yung Yey28 ch.
- Book VII Shu R37 ch.
- Book VIII T’ai-po21 ch.
- Book IX Tsze Han30 ch.
- Book X Heang Tang18 ch.
- Book XI Hsien Tsin25 ch.
- Book XII Yen Yuan24 ch.
- Book XIII Tsze-lu30 ch.
- Book XIV Hsien Wan47 ch.
- Book XV Wei Ling Kung41 ch.
- Book XVI Ke She14 ch.
- Book XVII Yang Ho26 ch.
- Book XVIII Wei Tsze11 ch.
- Book XIX Tsze-chang25 ch.
- Book XX Yao Yueh3 ch.
Translated by James Legge, The Chinese Classics, vol. 1 (1861). Public domain (first published 1861; translator died 1897).