Analects and Its Influence

Analects is words and deeds recording of Confucius and his disciples. We do not know by who and how the words and deeds are summarized. But maybe they were made by disciples after the death of Confucius.
Analects is a collection of fragmentary short sentences. They are divided in chapters. It looks like there is a theme on every chapter. Some chapters look like having clear themes, some does not.
We actually do not know for what Analects was made. Maybe they were textbook to educate disciples.
We do not know the objective of Analects, but its influence is tremendous. Analects has been affecting the thoughts of the people in China and its surrounding countries for more than 2000 years. Furthermore those words were translated into various languages, and spread to Western and other countries.
We who are engaged in daily life are affected by Analects unwittingly. Analects encourage us in various scenes in wording, human relations, efforts to study or work, etiquette, and way of life in the organization.
Even for us who live in modern society, Analects gives us a variety of wisdom without losing its brightness.

*Return to About Analects of Confucius

About Analects of Confucius

Analects and Its Influence
Analects is words and deeds recording of Confucius and his disciples. We do not know by who and how the words and deeds are summarized. But maybe they were made by disciples after the death of Confucius.
Attitude to Learn
Analects tells us importance and preciousness of learning. Humans continue to learn for a lifetime. As far as we are learning, we can be humans. Learning enhance our life.
Filial Piety
It is often said that "Be good and dutiful to your parents". Basically filial piety is to respect and follow one's own parents. It is not just giving them something, inviting them to a trip, or massaging them.
Humanity and Justice
Humanity and Justice are the moral discipline that must be obeyed. Or they are mercy of mind (humaneness) and thread of things (righteousness). Some people say humanity and justice are a kind of greetings to obtain something.
Courtesy and Court Music
Courtesy and court music had been the cornerstone of politics in ancient China. Because courtesy is to keep the order of society, and court music has soothing effect grabbing the hearts of people.
Tao in Analects
The word "Tao" of Confucius is often seen in Analects. "If I hear Tao in the morning, I am happy to die in the evening" is the famous short sentence. What did Confucius mean by saying "Tao" here? Maybe "Tao" for Confucius meant the ideal state of the nation.
How to Educate
We can find many tips in Analects to spread the academic - ie. "teaching" - as well as to cultivate academic - ie. "learning". In other words, the Analects shows how to guide and teach people, the way of education.
Virtue
Confucius tells a lot to us. Analects has a number of shining words. Among them, the most precious treasure of mankind is "virtue".

Modern Society and Human Beings

Humans in Social Organizations
We live in a social organization. Many people can not live without staying in a social organization. They cling to their positions in a social organization and they are spending days complaining.
A Guide for Family Love
Perhaps the 20th century was the century when the family collapsed. As industrialization and urbanization rapidly proceeded, nuclear families advanced, and number of living alone grew sharply. The shared life by the former large family became frowned.
Life is a Hardship Trip
Confucius suffered various hardships to dare to correct the way in a time when the world was disturbed and the ideal way was not done. It may be said that the last years of Confucius were just a series of hardships. He suffered because he persisted his beliefs.
Do not Abandon the World Daringly
When social organizations become corrupt and begin to collapse, the right people will lose their place. Some people escape to a foreign country, abandon the world and move to countryside, or they die their own lives.