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Primary sourceBook1909

The Sayings of Confucius

Leonard A. Lyall · 1909

Leonard A. Lyall's English translation of sayings attributed to Confucius, suitable for close reading.

This translation preserves sayings attributed directly to Confucius, central to his teachings.

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The Sayings of ConfuciusPDF · 133 pages
Leonard A. Lyall (trans.), The Sayings of Confucius, 1909. Internet Archive scan.

About this source

What it is

This 1909 book is an English translation by Leonard A. Lyall of sayings attributed to Confucius. Lyall also translated related Confucian texts such as the Chung-Yung. This edition was published by Longmans, Green and Co., with later editions following in 1925 and 1935.

Why it matters

Collections of Confucius's sayings are central to understanding his ethical and political teachings, which shaped Chinese culture and government for centuries. Lyall's preface notes his effort to make the translation more literal in later editions, reminding readers that translation is an ongoing act of interpretation, not a fixed, perfect copy of the original.

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  • Why did the translator revise his translation to be more

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