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The Analects (Legge translation)

James Legge

James Legge's 19th-century English translation of the Analects, the collected sayings of Confucius recorded by his followers.

This is an English translation of sayings attributed to Confucius, making his teachings accessible to Western students.

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What it is

This is James Legge's English translation of the Analects, part of his multi-volume The Chinese Classics published in the 19th century. The original Chinese text records sayings and conversations attributed to Confucius.

Why it matters

Legge's translation became the standard version through which English-speaking readers encountered Confucius for over a century. It shows how a philosopher's words from ancient China were carried into another language and culture, shaping Western understanding of Confucian thought.

Look closer

  • Why might a translation matter as much as the original text for how a historical figure is remembered?
  • What choices might a translator make that change the meaning of a saying?
  • Who is speaking in this text — Confucius, his students, or the translator?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Confucius on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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