What is a book or text from Confucianism?
While Confucius may not have written many of the books his followers use, there are a total of fourteen that are accepted as authentic and authoritative. They are divided into several different groups, but four are of primary importance.The Four BooksOf the fourteen books called the Confucian Classics, four are written by Confucius or by people close to him. They are the Lunyu, Zhong Yong, Da Xue, and Meng Zi. (These names are rough English transliterations.)AnalectsThe Lunyu, or “Analects,” is the book attributed to Confucius himself. It is a book of ethics and is the centerpiece of Confucianism.The Middle WayThe Zhong Yong, or “Middle Way” (sometimes called the “Doctrine of the Mean”) is a book by Kong Ji, a grandson of Confucius. Its instructions detail a “golden way” which, if followed, will result in the attainment of virtue.The Great LearningThe Da Xue, or “Great Learning,” is a small book. Some scholars say Kong Ji wrote it, while others say a disciple, Zeng Can, did. It was int
