Essential Confucius, The: The Heart of Confucius' Teachings in Authentic I Ching Order: A Compendium of Ethical Wisdom

Confucius is one of the great figures in the history of human thought, a pioneering educator, social critic, and political scientist. As a philosopher and teacher, he addressed core human issues with such precision and clarity that his sayings have been preserved and studied over thousands of years. The Analects of Confucius are a basic source for a wide range of advice on human affairs from governing nations and managing enterprises to dealing with society and getting along with others. This new presentation of the ever-popular sayings of Confucius is designed to bring the wisdom of a great teacher to another generation of readers. In his brilliant text, Thomas Cleary has arranged the sayings of Confucius in the order of the sixty-four classic I Ching hexagrams, which Confucius not only made available in their present form but also supplemented with his own written commentaries. Widely recognized for his linguistic and technical mastery in the translation of ancient Chinese texts, Tho

Cleary presents the core teachings of the great Chinese philosopher, educator, and social critic in a convenient, easy-to-read format. Sayings from Confucius's Analects, or collection of aphorisms, are arranged in small groups by topic following his commentaries on the I Ching, or Book of Changes, the most profound of the Chinese classics. These remarks, which were incorporated into the I Ching itself, afford, as Cleary says, "the most convenient lens through which to view the ideas of Confucius systematically." This elegant organization makes it simple for the reader to consult the great sage readily on the wide variety of subjects with which he was concerned--including morality, etiquette, diplomacy, and social responsibility. Cleary's translation captures all the simplicity and directness of Confucius's eminently practical approach to life: "Be dutiful at home, brotherly in public; be discreet and trustworthy, love all people, and draw near to humanity. If you have extra energy as you do that, then study literature." The introduction provides solid philosophical and historical background, and notes on each of the 64 sections provide further insight into the subtleties of Confucian wisdom. --Uma Kukathas