Stories of the Analects

There are many scholarly commentaries on the Analects of Confucius. However, as times change and political and social backgrounds shift, old interpretations may no longer be applicable to today's world. The author of this book, who is well-versed in classics and history and bridged the gap between Eastern and Western learning, reinterprets the Analects with unique insights. For example, regarding the opening sentence of the Analects, "To learn and at due times to practice it," the author cites the I Ching, the Classic of Poetry, Zhuangzi, Liezi, Huainanzi, and even semantics to provide an explanation. He further supports his points with Confucius's dialogues with Duke Ai, Yang Huo, and Zilu. Written in a way that is profound yet easy to understand, with clear reasoning and exhaustive meaning, this book can be called a landmark work in the interpretation of the Analects.

Author Profile

Liu Ying

Courtesy name Manqing, also known as Chunxi, a native of Nanchang, Jiangxi. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from National Taiwan University. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1957 and served until his resignation in 1997. During his forty-year career, he rose from a section chief to a department director and eventually to a specially appointed representative. While stationed in Thailand, he arranged a visit for President Lee Teng-hui and a party of forty; the President and the King of Thailand had a very pleasant meeting. While serving as the representative to Jordan, he again arranged a visit for President Lee and a party of forty, who stayed in the royal palace, earning him the reputation of a "Lucky General." He has spent his life researching Tang Dynasty legends and Tang literary history, publishing about two hundred papers, novels, and essays in newspapers and magazines. After retirement, he continues to enjoy reading and writing. He is currently the Chairman of the Chinese Confucius Society.