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Understanding the Analects of Confucius is a courageous attempt to answer all the long-standing questions about this ancient Chinese book -- The Analects of Confucius -- which consists of a large collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries. The book is believed to have been compiled and written by Confucius's followers during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). Throughout the past 2,000 years, it has been one of the most widely read and studied books in the Chinese World, and continues to have a substantial influence on Chinese and East Asian thought and values today.
The author of Understanding the Analects of Confucius, Dr Mingte Liu, bases his interpretation of the book on Confucius's writing style and the political and social circumstances in which the philosopher lived and served as a teacher/scholar. He further compares his interpretation with those by other Chinese scholars in an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, Dr Liu includes a series of questions and answers between a group of graduate students and himself, as a reflection of how today's Chinese youths think of this ancient book and its impact on contemporary Chinese society and culture. Understanding the Analects of Confucius is therefore a valuable text for all who are interested in understanding the past, present and future of China as a rising superpower.
