Your Favourite Passages from Confucius’ Analects ( 論語 )

Arguably the single most influential work in all of Chinese culture and history, the Analects of Confucius has shaped the thought and customs of China and the broader East Asian cultural sphere for millennia. Emerging during the tumultuous Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history (roughly 770–476 BC), a time marked by political fragmentation and social upheaval, the Analects addresses the ethical and moral challenges of a society in decline. Confucius sought to restore harmony and social order by advocating for a return to ethical governance and personal cultivation, rooted in the moral principles of 仁 (humaneness or goodness), 禮 (social propriety), and 孝 (filial piety or obligation). While Confucius himself remained a marginal figure during his lifetime, his teachings gained prominence in later dynasties, when Confucianism was institutionalized as the official ideology of imperial China for hundreds of years.

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Originally, the (often cryptic) passages of the Analects were meant to be recited aloud and discussed with others so that their deeper meaning and subtleties could be gradually extracted. In that original spirit, let's come together to discuss our favourite passages from this text.

At the meetup, we'll take turns sharing one passage at a time followed by open discussion about the passage. (You do not have to share any passages to join the meetup.) For each passage, please tell the group (in under 5 minutes):

• how you understand the passage, including any issues of translation (you can read multiple translations if you want)
• why you like the passage
• how you think the passage might be relevant (or not) today

If we have more passages than we have time to discuss we can schedule more meetups on the topic.

You can indicate in advance in the comments below 👇 if you'd like to share any passages and which passages you're sharing but this is not mandatory.

Zoom's "share screen" function will be available to any presenters who want to use it.

UPDATE: There are countless translations of the Analects out there but if you're looking for a free one online this one (link) by Robert Eno, a professor at Indiana University, is pretty good. If you want to purchase a copy I personally recommend the Edward Slingerland translation with commentaries.