Confucian Sacred Writings

People who practice Confucianism adhere to two major groups of sacred writings. They are divided into "Four Books" and "Five Classics". The Analects, on the other hand, are one of the most well-known and widely followed. The Analects are Confucius's ideas and sayings that were written and compiled in the Analects around seventy years after his death.

For the past 2000 years, the Analects have been the most widely read and studied books in China, and they continue to significantly influence Chinese and East Asian thoughts and values today. The Analects was originally part of "The Five Classics" but was discovered to be more critical and is now part of "The Four Books".

The Four Books:

• Analects: A collection of writings and sayings by Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. The most read and studied book in the religion.

• Great Learning: Was originally one chapter in the Book Of Rites. It consists of a brief text contributed to Confucius, as well as nine additional chapters written by Zeng Zi, one of Confucius's disciples. It expresses many themes of Chinese philosophy and political thought, and as a result, it has had a huge impact on both classical and modern Chinese thought.

• Doctrine of the Mean: Another chapter in the Book of Rites attributed to Confucius's grandson Zisi. It is a 33-chapter book that demonstrates the utility of the golden way to attain perfect virtue.

• Mencius: A collection of conversations of the scholar 'Mencius' with the kings of his time. It contains long extensive prose, unlike the writings of Confucius.

The Five Classics:

• Classic of Poetry: A collection of 305 poems (divided into 160 folk songs, 105 festival songs, and 40 hymns sung at sacrifices to gods and ancestral spirits of the royal house).

• Book of Documents: A collection of documents and speeches allegedly written by rulers of the early Zhou period and before. It could be the oldest Chinese narrative, dating back to 6 B.C. It contains many examples of early Chinese prose.

• Book of Rites: Describes ancient rites, social forms, and court ceremonies. Scholars from the third century B.C. redrew the version that is studied today. Confucius himself was said to have edited the original text.

• I Ching (Book of Changes): This book contains a divination system that is widely used by Confucianism followers. The system described in this book is very similar to divination rituals performed in West Africa and modern East Asia. It is one of the most popular religious writings and is still widely used in modern society.

• Spring and Autumn Annals: A historical writing of the State of Lu (Confucius's home state) that existed between 1042BC and 249BC.