Confucian Literature

1
Confucian Literature

• The Power of the Pen
• The Five Classics and Four Books

2
The Five Classics

• Book of History (Shu Ching) is a history of the
  kings from (c. 1112-256 b.c.e.)
• Book of Poetry (Shih Ching) a collection of about
  300 poems of the Zhou period
• Book of Changes (I Ching) talks about the pattern
  of the universe. It is used to understand
  future events and to work with them properly.
  It also describes how a noble person will act in
  lifes events.

3
Five Books (cont)

• Book of Rites (Li Chi) lists ceremonies and their
  meaning. Although there was a Book of Music it
  no longer exists and it is said that it is
  contained in the Book of Rites.
• The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun Chiu)
  contains the historical records of the State of
  Lu, Confucius hometown and ends with a later
  commentary.

4
The Four Books

• The Analects (Lum Yu) are the sayings of
  Confucius and his followers. According to
  tradition his followers wrote down what Confucius
  said. However, it is more likely that it was his
  disciples of his followers who wrote the book.
  The Analects contain short stories and small
  sayings.

5
Second Book

• The Great Learning (Ta Hsueh) is a short
  discussion on the character and influence of the
  noble person. It is doubtful that Confucius
  wrote this. It was the very first book memorized
  and studied by Chinese students.

6
Third Book

• The Doctrine of the Mean (Chung Yung) it was
  added to the Book of Rites at one time. It talks
  highly about the mean or equilibrium. A human
  being who follows the way of Heaven avoids
  extremes and remains in harmony. This balance
  unites the individual with the balance of the
  universe.

7
The Fourth Book

• The Mencius (Meng Tzu) is a lengthy collections
  of the sayings of Mencius one of the disciples of
  Confucius who lived sometime after him. Many of
  the sayings being with the phrase Mencius said.