Analects
The Analects is a collection of sayings and dialogues attributed to Confucius and his disciples. It is a foundational text of the Confucian tradition.
Confucius: A Chinese teacher and thinker traditionally dated to 551–479 BCE, whose teachings shaped Confucianism. The Analects presents his teachings through sayings and conversations.
Warring States period: A period of political conflict in China from 475 to 221 BCE, ending with Qin unification. Much of the Analects is thought to have been compiled amid the intellectual activity of this era.
Confucian classics: A group of texts that became central to the education and intellectual tradition of imperial China. The Analects was studied alongside other canonical works in this tradition.
Imperial examination: A system of examinations used in imperial China to select officials through mastery of classical learning. Knowledge of Confucian texts, including the Analects, became essential to examination study.
Confucianism: A Chinese ethical and philosophical tradition centered on moral cultivation, social responsibility, and proper relationships. The text became a foundational source for this tradition.
Qin dynasty: The Chinese dynasty that unified the warring states and ruled from 221 to 206 BCE. The text’s transmission unfolded through the political upheavals surrounding Qin unification.
Analects of Confucius (Slingerland translation): A modern English translation of the Analects by Edward Slingerland, published in 2003. Its notes and translation make the text’s historical setting and key terms accessible.
Confucianism in Korea: The development and practice of Confucian thought in Korean societies across historical periods. The Analects informed Korean education, ethics, and statecraft.
Ren: A Confucian virtue commonly translated as humaneness or benevolence, expressed through care for others. Confucius repeatedly connects ethical conduct with becoming humane.
Han dynasty: A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 206 BCE to 220 CE and established Confucian learning as state orthodoxy. Han scholars transmitted, interpreted, and elevated the Analects.