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Secondary sourceBook1910

The Sayings of Confucius

Lionel Giles · 1910

Lionel Giles's 1910 English translation of a large part of the Analects, the recorded sayings of Confucius.

An English translation of sayings recorded and attributed to Confucius by his followers.

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What it is

This is a 1910 English translation by Lionel Giles of most of the Confucian Analects, a collection of sayings attributed to Confucius.

Why it matters

The Analects are the main source for Confucius's recorded teachings, compiled by his followers after his death. This translation made his sayings accessible to English-speaking readers in the early 20th century, showing the lasting influence of his ideas across cultures and centuries.

Look closer

  • Why does the introduction compare judgments of Confucius by people from different countries?
  • What might change in meaning when sayings are translated from Chinese into English?
  • Why do you think this collection of sayings became so important to later generations?

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