Conversations and judgments

"Conversations and judgments" ("Lunyu") is a classic Confucian text, representing a collection of sayings of Confucius and records of his dialogues with students. The book consists of twenty chapters containing brief reflections on human nature, morality, and virtue, as well as principles of state governance. In concise and succinct aphorisms, it reveals the primary tenets of the spiritual and ethical teachings of Confucius: ideals of justice and humanity, reverence for traditions, education, and the cultivation of personal qualities. The key, repeatedly varied position of "Conversations and judgments" is the inner perfection of a person through the practice of virtue (ren) and adherence to proper actions (li). Confucius emphasizes the importance of these principles both in personal life and in state affairs—wise governance based on personal example rather than external coercion. This work has become the cornerstone of the philosophy of Ancient China, having a profound impact on the development of Chinese culture and state ethics. In this edition, it is published in the translation of the outstanding Russian sinologist, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences P. S. Popov (1842–1913).