Confucius and the Analects

Confucius is one of the most influential figures--as historical individual and as symbol--in world history; and the Analects the sayings attributed to Confucius and his disciples is a classic of world literature. Nonetheless how to understand both figure and text is constantly under dispute. Surprisingly this volume is the first and only anthology on these topics in English. Here contributors apply a variety of different methodologies (including philosophical philological and religious) and address a number of important topics from Confucius and Western virtue ethics to Confucius'' attitude toward women to the historical composition of the text of the Analects. Scholars will appreciate the rigor of these essays while students and beginners will find them accessible and engaging.