If we're gonna be on a Confucius-binge, may as well throw in a few texts.
The following are the Four Books, which became orthodoxy in the Song Dynasty under the influence of Zhu Xi and the Daoxue school. This orthodoxy persisted until the end of the Empire. I've got my issues with them . . . but it is still important to know.
First, read the "Great Learning". It serves as a sort of primer for all later writings.
2) Next, read the Analects. It is linked above. Now that you have a lens through which to view Confucius, the subtle meanings of the Analects may become far more clear.
3) Read the Mencius (linked above). This adds the necessary level of compassion to Confucian philosophy that many found lacking in the Analects. Additionally, the Emperor as Father starts here. Ren (benevolence) is stressed above all else.
4) Read the Doctrine of the Mean. In the words of Run DMC, you better check yoursef before you wreck yoursef:
http://www.chinapage.com/confucius/zhongyong/mean.html The base page (
http://www.chinapage.com/confucius) also has the Five Classics in Chinese if you really want them. There is also Legge's translation of the Shijing, the Classic of Poetry listed in my previous post.
Extra Credit:
A few texts from the Xunzi. Xunzi stresses ritual (li) more than benevolence. Chronologically, he comes after Mencius. In many ways, he is a response to the Zhuangzi in the same way Mencius is a response to Mo Zi. If you like these, check out Knoblock at your local University Library. The man is a freakin' genius.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/x/xunzi.htmhttp://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9 ... n-tse.htmlHere are a few articles (ranging in quality) on the Mozi. Mohists were a paramilitary philosophy that existed during the Warring States Period. Chronologically, much of the Mozi was written between the Analects and the Mencius. It is strongly critical of Confucians and the Mencius tried to respond to many of the criticisms found within:
A quick and dirty, dirty, dirty primer:
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/timewarp/mozi.htmlA happy little article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoziA comparison of Mohists and the Ru:
http://www.iun.edu/~hisdcl/h425/mozi.htmAnd the text itself (incomplete translation):
http://www.cic.sfu.ca/nacc/articles/leg ... momei.htmlI'll let the Daoists provide links for the Zhuangzi. However, Xun Zi relies heavily on the metaphysics present in that text. Particularly 'On Heaven'
Here is a bit on Hanfei Zi. He was a pupil of Xun Zi . . . but think Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi. Machiavelli would think this guy takes pragmatism a little too far. It gives you an idea as to what Confucians AREN'T:
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature ... feizi.htmlAnd for a few more modern often 'Boston' Confucians:
Van Norden's work:
The Dao of Kongzi:
http://faculty.vassar.edu/brvannor/DaoofKongzi.pdfTu Weiming, THE modern Confucian:
Tu on Ren:
http://www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/308/ren.htmHis webpage:
http://www.tuweiming.org/ If anyone can find English translations of Lu Xun, they would definately be a nice addition. Man, did he hate Confucians.
NOW you are an expert.