The Analects: a Guide

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"--