The Analects: a Guide

Download or read book The Analects: a Guide written by Erin M. Cline and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-10-12 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Analects (Lunyu) is not only a collection of the teachings of Kongzi (Confucius) which describes how to follow the Wa, it is a sacred text. This book examines why we ought to regard the Analects as a sacred text and what it means to do so. It explores what distinguishes sacred texts from other texts, and explores [the] history of the Analects and how it has been regarded in the Chinese tradition and in East Asia more broadly, from its composition and compilation, to the evolution of its enduring status and influence. It also examines the content of the Analects concerning the sacred, including rituals, Tian ('Heaven'), de ('moral power'), different kinds of spirits, and its presentation of Kongzi not just as a teacher but as an exemplar"--