The Analects is a classic of Confucianism. The model of life that Confucius advocated 2,500 years ago is still the yardstick by which the Chinese judge behaviour today. For the most part of the past centuries, Confucianism has been the spiritual pillar of the Chinese and the peoples of East Asian countries, shaping ethics and morality, and forging their positive and enterprising life and work attitudes. Many scholars believe that this is one of the most important factors contributing to the economic miracle of East Asia in recent years.

This book aims to cultivate mutual tolerance and understanding between Eastern and Western cultures, as well as to allow readers from all over the world to learn about the Asian civilizations. 140 items have been selected from The Analects, which are timeless representations of Confucian teachings, and have been translated bilingually in modern language. Comparisons to Western or contemporary beliefs are also made, allowing readers from different cultural and religious backgrounds to gain an empathetic understanding of and insight into Confucianism. Moreover, emphasis is placed on the identification of the original meaning of The Analects so that the thoughts of the Pre-Qin period can be well articulated.

The book is published in both Chinese and English, and for readers who are well versed in both languages, they can deepen their understanding of the cultural concepts by comparing the two translations.