The Analects of Confucius

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 book is valued for its insights into the successful governance of the empire and its ideal organization of society. It has also been used for many centuries as a beginning text in the learning of classical Chinese.
The single most influential philosophical work in all of Chinese history, The Analects of Confucius has shaped the thought and customs of China for centuries and has played a key role in the development of nearby countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Burton Watson's concise translation uses the pinyin system of romanization and keeps explanatory notes to a minimum, yet his intimate knowledge of the Confucian tradition and precise attention to linguistic detail capture all the elegance, cogency, and wit of the original text, which continues to exert tremendous influence.

Burton Watson has taught at Columbia, Stanford, and Kyoto Universities and is one of the world's best-known translators of Chinese and Japanese works. His translations include The Tales of the Heike; The Lotus Sutra; the writings of Zhuangzi, Mozi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi; The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry; and Records of the Grand Historian.