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Yu Dan's Notes on the Analects of Confucius

The hottest book at the end of the year? It has to be Yu Dan’s Notes on the Analects of Confucius, which set a new sales record with 10,000 copies sold in a day. The Analects of Confucius, or Lunyu, is a collection of words and deeds of the most famous Chinese thinker Confucius, who taught his students in his private school some 2,500 years ago. It is the most influential textbook in the history of China and East Asia.

Yu Dan, a Beijing Normal University professor, gave a lecture on her understanding of The Analects of Confucius in the Lecture Room programme on CCTV. The programme was such a hit that the texts of her seven lectures were bound in this book. On the book’s cover, the author writes: “The true meaning of The Analects of Confucius is to tell us how we can live as happily as our hearts and souls want to.”

The original text of The Analects of Confucius was included in the book, but written in ancient Chinese, it is hard to understand for people today. In addition to translating the old text into modern day language, Yu also applies these thousand-year-old rules and principles to modern situations. For example, the old master once said “At 15, I had my mind bent on learning. At 30, I stood firm. At 40, I had no doubts. At 50, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At 60, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At 70, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.” The author explains these different stages of life and shows us how to use them as guides in our now much faster-paced and informationally overloaded lives.

“Probably the ultimate usage of The Analects of Confucius is to integrate harmoniously the classical spiritual powers with modern day rules, and to establish a real efficient and valuable life for everybody,” The author says at the very end of the book.