The Analects is a classic of Confucianism. The model of life that Confucius advocated 2,500 years ago is still the yardstick by which the Chinese judge behaviour today. It has not ceased to be relevant over the years! For the most part of the past centuries, Confucianism has been the spiritual pillar of Chinese people and the peoples of the East Asian countries. The ethics and morality shaped by Confucianism have forged the positive and enterprising life and work attitudes of the peoples of East Asian countries. Many scholars believe that this is one of the most important factors contributing to the economic miracle of East Asia in recent years.
In this revised and expanded edition, the content is enriched, examples appropriate for the contemporary world are supplemented, and more instances are brought up for comparison so as to allow readers from different cultural and religious backgrounds to gain an empathetic understanding of and an insight into Confucianism. Moreover, emphasis is placed on the identification of the original meaning of The Analects so that the thoughts of the Pre-Qin period can be well articulated.
The book is published in both Chinese and English for the purpose of encouraging readers of different nationalities to read and study The Analects. Readers who are well versed in both Chinese and English can deepen their understanding of the cultural concepts by comparing the ways the two languages discuss them.
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