The Analects of Confucius

Burton Watson, Burton Watson

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9780231511995
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Asian Religions

Compiled by disciples of Confucius in the centuries following his death in 479 B.C.E., The Analects of Confucius is a collection of aphorisms and historical anecdotes embodying the basic values of the Confucian tradition: learning, morality, ritual decorum, and filial piety. Reflecting the model eras of Chinese antiquity, the Analects offers valuable insights into successful governance and the ideal organization of society. Filled with humor and sarcasm, it reads like a casual conversation between teacher and student, emphasizing the role of the individual in the attainment of knowledge and the value of using historical events and people to illuminate moral and political concepts.

Confucius's teachings focus on cultural and peaceful pursuits and the characteristics of benevolent and culturally distinguished government. He also discusses ancestor worship and other rites performed for the spirits of the dead. The single most influential philosophical work in all of Chinese history, The Analects of Confucius has shaped the thought and customs of China and neighboring countries for centuries. Burton Watson's concise translation uses the pinyin romanization system and keeps explanatory notes to a minimum, yet his intimate knowledge of the Confucian tradition and precise attention to linguistic detail capture the original text's elegance, cogency, and wit.

Glossary of Persons and Places

AO Legendary, rowdy strong man of antiquity who met a violent end [14:6].

BI Town in the state of Lu controlled by the Ji family [6:9, 11:25, 16:1, 17:5].

BI GAN Uncle of Zhou, last ruler of the Yin dynasty, who was killed by Zhou because of his remonstrances [18:1].

BI XI Identity uncertain; started a revolution in Zhongmou in an area controlled by the state of Jin [17:7].

BO Family of the state of Qi [14:10].

BO YI AND SHU QI Sons of the ruler of a small state in Yin times. Their father intended the younger, Shu Qi, to succeed him, but Shu Qi deferred to Bo Yi and both brothers left the state. When King Wu overthrew the Yin dynasty, they admonished him for his violence, withdrew to Mount Shouyang, and died there of starvation [5:23, 7:14, 16:12, 18:8].

BONIU See Ran Boniu.

BOOK OF CHANGES (YIJING) Early text on divination, one of the Confucian Classics [7:16, 13:22].

BOOK OF DOCUMENTS (SHUJING, OR CLASSIC OF HISTORY) Collection of historical documents pertaining to ancient times, one of the Confucian Classics [2:21, 7:17, 14:42, 20:1].

BOOK OF ODES (SHIJING, OR CLASSIC OF POETRY) Collection of poems of ancient times, one of the Confucian Classics [1:15, 2:2, 3:2, 3:20, 7:17, 8:3, 8:8, 9:15, 9:28, 9:32, 11:6, 12:10, 13:5, 14:41, 15:11, 16:13, 17:9, 17:10, 17:18].

BOQIN Son of the duke of Zhou and first ruler of the state of Lu [18:10].

BOYU Personal name Li; son of Confucius [16:13, 17:10].

CAI Small state to the southwest of Lu visited by Confucius [11:2, 18:9].

CHAI See Zigao.

CHANGJU Farmer recluse [18:6].

CHE Grandson of Duke Ling of Wei [7:14].

CHEN Ministerial family of the state of Qi; identical to Tian [14:22].

CHEN Small state to the southwest of Lu visited by Confucius [5:22, 7:30, 11:2, 15:2].

CHEN CHENGZI Official of the state of Qi who assassinated Duke Jian of Qi in 481 B.C.E [14:22].

CHEN GANG See Ziqin.

CHEN HENG See Chen Chengzi.

CHEN WEN ZI Official of the state of Qi [5:19].

CHEN ZIQIN Perhaps identical to Ziqin [19:25].

CHI See Gongxi Zihua.

CHU Large and important state in the Yangzi Valley [5:19, 13:16, 18:5, 18:9].

CONFUCIUS (551–479 B.C.E) Latinized form of Kong fuzi, or Respected Master Kong; family name Kong, personal name Qiu, polite name Zhongni; often referred to simply as Zi, or the Master.

CUI ZI Official of the state of Qi who assassinated Duke Zhuang of Qi in 548 B.C.E [5:19].

DAN See Duke of Zhou.

DAXIANG Village [9:2].

DENG Small state to the south of Lu [14:12].

DI Non-Chinese people who lived to the northwest of China [3:5, 13:19].

DOCUMENTS See Book of Documents.

DUKE AI Ruler of the state of Lu (494–468 B.C.E) when power was in the hands of the Ji family [2:19, 3:21, 6:3, 12:9, 14:22].

DUKE DING Ruler of the state of Lu (509–495 B.C.E) [3:19, 13:15].

DUKE HUAN OF LU Ruler of the state of Lu and ancestor of the three branches of the Ji family [16:3].

DUKE HUAN OF QI Illustrious ruler of the state of Qi (685–643 B.C.E) [14:16–14:18].

DUKE JIAN OF QI Ruler of the state of Qi (484–481 B.C.E) who was assassinated by Chen Chengzi [14:22].

DUKE JING OF QI Ruler of the state of Qi (547–490 B.C.E) [12:11, 16:12, 18:3].

DUKE LING OF WEI Ruler of the state of Wei (534–493 B.C.E) [6:28, 7:14, 14:20, 15:1].

DUKE OF LU See Boqin.

DUKE OF ZHOU Personal name Dan; younger brother of King Wu, founder of the Zhou dynasty, who was enfeoffed as the ruler of the state of Lu [3:15, 7:5, 8:11, 11:17, 13:7, 18:10].

DUKE WEN OF JIN Illustrious ruler of the state of Jin (636–628 B.C.E) [14:16].

DUKE ZHAO Ruler of the state of Lu (541–509 B.C.E) [7:30].

FAN CHI Disciple of Confucius [2:5, 6:22, 12:21, 12:22, 13:4, 13:19].

FAN XU See Fan Chi.

FANG SHU Drummer [18:9].

GAN Musician [18:9].

GAO CHAI See Zigao.

GAO YAO Minister to the sage ruler Shun [12:22].

GAO ZONG Sage ruler of the Yin dynasty [14:42].

GONGBO LIAO Identity uncertain [14:38].

GONGMING JIA Identity unknown [14:14].

GONGSHAN FURAO Retainer of the Ji family in the state of Lu...