Chinese Literature: Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
Chinese Literature: Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
Translated by John Francis, Sir Davis
Two and a half millennia before modern psychology articulated the mechanics of the well-lived life, Chinese philosophers were already mapping the terrain of human flourishing. This collection gathers five foundational works that shaped an entire civilization's vision of virtue, governance, and the art of being human. The Analects presents Confucius in dialogue with his disciples, wrestling with questions that remain urgent: How should one lead? What does it mean to be filial? Can virtue be taught? Mencius extends and complicates these arguments, insisting on the goodness of human nature and the moral obligations of power. The Shi-King offers poetry of startling intimacy, love songs and laments from ordinary people that reveal the emotional texture of ancient China. Fâ-Hien's pilgrimage to India gives us early cross-cultural encounter, while The Sorrows of Han brings dramatic narrative and political tragedy. Together, these texts propose a way of living that has resonated for centuries. For readers seeking wisdom stress-tested by time, this anthology is a portal to the foundations of Eastern thought.
