The Analects: A Guide

Abstract

Abstract The Analects (Lunyu) is not only a collection of the teachings of Kongzi (Confucius) that describes how to follow the Way; 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 also as an exemplar. It argues that we find a deep concern in the Analects with things we might call sacred, spiritual, or religious, but that are part of our everyday lives. All of these things, together, offer good reasons to study the Analects as a sacred text.