The Analects of Confucius (Translations from the Asian Classics) by Burton Watson (PDF)

Description

Compiled by disciples of Confucius in the centuries following his death in 479 B.C.E., The Analects of Confucius is a collection of aphorisms and historical anecdotes embodying the basic values of the Confucian tradition: learning, morality, ritual decorum, and filial piety. Reflecting the model eras of Chinese antiquity, the Analects offers valuable insights into successful governance and the ideal organization of society. Filled with humor and sarcasm, it reads like a casual conversation between teacher and student, emphasizing the role of the individual in the attainment of knowledge and the value of using historical events and people to illuminate moral and political concepts. Confucius’s teachings focus on cultural and peaceful pursuits and the characteristics of benevolent and culturally distinguished government. He also discusses ancestor worship and other rites performed for the spirits of the dead. The single most influential philosophical work in all of Chinese history, The Analects of Confucius has shaped the thought and customs of China and neighboring countries for centuries. Burton Watson’s concise translation uses the pinyin romanization system and keeps explanatory notes to a minimum, yet his intimate knowledge of the Confucian tradition and precise attention to linguistic detail capture the original text’s elegance, cogency, and wit.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This little book has had a considerable influence over the centuries in China and its cultural sphere. This translation is very agreeable and can be read in one day. However, it is a book that requires more than just one reading.To give some examples, here are some sentences, almost chosen randomly:”The Master said, The gentleman is not a utensil.””The Master said, Persons who lack trustworthiness-I don’t know how they get by!””A person who really hated the lack of humaneness would conduct himself humanely, never allowing those who lack humaneness to affect his behavior.””The Master’s Way consists of loyalty and reciprocity alone.”And my favorite one: “Standing by a stream, the Master said, It flows on like this-does it not?- never ceasing, day or night.”Burton Watson is a great translator of fine letters and we are all in his debt.

⭐Amazing book, very clear and easy to understand. The content is a bit long at some points, but overall, it is a very interesting read if you are one to look deep into the text. If you’re not, then it is still good because it is easy to grasp the meaning.The packaging was really good to ensure that the book got to me in the condition that I had expected.

⭐Good

⭐Another reviewer quoted the famous passage, “The Master said, The gentleman is not a utensil” as a highlight of this translation. Well, it only highlights that the translation is not as accurate as it should be. In the original text, the negative before qi, “utensil,” is bu, which negates verbs, not nouns. That means qi must be understood as a verb, “to act like/behave like/serve as a utensil.” A more precise translation would be: “The gentleman does not serve as a utensil.” It’s a subtle but crucial difference, and there’s really no excuse for a translator of Watson’s experience to make a mistake like this. He is more at home in imperial literature, not the classics.

⭐Very interesting reading.

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