Getting Confucius Wrong
A new translation of a key Chinese text is dangerously lacking in expertise.
The issue at hand is hindering our website's proper loading. For assistance, please consider these troubleshooting tips or reach out via [email protected]. Confucius, often considered the most renowned Chinese figure after Mao Zedong, lived between 551 and 479 B.C. His fame began almost immediately following his demise, leading to the attribution of various sayings to him, many of which were compiled into writings.
Among these collections, the Analects stands out as the most significant, emerging between the 2nd and 1st century B.C. This text has become a cornerstone of Chinese culture and an essential lens for understanding China itself. Since the 1930s, Confucius has shared the stage with Moses on the east pediment of the U.S. Supreme Court Building.
Today, there are countless translations of the Analects into English, allowing for comparisons through natural language processing models. Prominent figures like Chinese President Xi Jinping and others frequently endorse the Analects, and the People's Republic of China maintains worldwide Confucius Institutes to teach Chinese culture.
Notably, even Mao Zedong, another iconic Chinese figure, cannot match Confucius' widespread acclaim.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
