Wengu - Chinese Classics

溫故知新 Wengu zhixin

詩經 Shi Jing – The Book of Odes

The oldest collection of Chinese poetry, more than three hundred songs, odes and hymns. Tr. Legge (en) and Granet (fr, incomplete).

論語 Lun Yu – The Analects of Confucius

The Master discusses with his disciples and unveil his preoccupations with society. Tr. Legge (en), Lau (en) and Couvreur (fr).

大學 Daxue – The Great Learning

Confucean thought summarized for the Prince. Tr. Legge (en), Pauthier (fr), Bog (fr).

中庸 Zhongyong – The Doctrine of the Mean

Confucius' grandson comments about the Way and human nature. Tr. Legge (en)

三字經 San Zi Jing – The Three-Character Classic

A textbook helpfull to start learning Classic Chinese. Tr. Giles (en) and Deverge (fr).

易經 Yi Jing – I Ching, the Book of Changes

This famous system of 64 hexagrams plus their commentaries and transformations is at the root of Chinese thought. Tr. Wilhelm (en, fr).

道德經 Dao De Jing – The Way and Its Power

The naturalist, individualist and politic doctrine of Lao-tse exhibited in 81 poetic and obscure texts. Tr. Waley (en), Lau (en), Julien (fr) and Wilhelm (de).

唐詩 Tang Shi – 300 Tang poems

An anthology of 320 poems. Discover Chinese poetry in its golden age and some of the greatest Chinese poets. Tr. by Bynner (en).

孫子兵法 Sun Zi – The Art of War

Chinese strategy explained : know yourself and the ennemy, use deception, spies, and "win with ease". Tr. Giles (en, annotated) and Amiot (fr).

三十六計 36 Ji – Thirty-Six Strategies

A recently uncovered notebook of 36 proverbs commented as military tactics that helps dealing with conflicts. Tr. Verstappen (en), Doc Mac Jr (fr).

Random samples

There is a rainbow in the east, / And no one dares to point to it. / When a girl goes away [from her home], [...] Cf. Shijing 51	The Master said, "The superior man is correctly firm, and not firm merely." [...] Cf. Lunyu 428	Shêng / Pushing Upward / Within the earth, wood grows: The image of PUSHING UPWARD. Thus the superior man of devoted [...] Cf. Yijing 46
He who has the least scrap of sense, once he has got started on the great highway has nothing to fear so long as he [...] Cf. Daodejing 53	I was bidding a guest farewell, at night on the Xunyang River, / Where maple-leaves and full-grown rushes rustled in [...] Cf. Tangshi 72	All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. [...] Cf. Sunzi 90

Foreword

In these pages it's possible to read the Analects of Confucius (Lunyu), The Way and its Power (Daode Jing) attributed to Lao-tse and some other wisdom or poetry texts in Chinese with English and French translations. Any Chinese characters are linked to dictionaries. Your browser must display Chinese.

Why read Confucius, Lao-tse or the Book of Changes? Well, these Chinese classics have had a major influence on the oldest civilization still in existence on the face of this planet; that should be enough. If not, please consider that China, mostly as a distant mirror where hopes and fears are reflected, has exercised a profound impact on the thinking patterns of Western civilisations, and will. This article in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains things better.

溫 故 知 新 Wengu zhixin

Random samples

Foreword

溫故知新 Wengu zhixin