Sacred Texts · The Analects

The Analects of Confucius and the Way of Jesus

The Analects gather the sayings of Confucius on humaneness, the family, learning, and the good life. Again and again his instinct runs close to the words of Jesus, most famously in the Golden Rule, and in a few places it marks an honest difference. This page reproduces 13 of those sayings in the public-domain Legge translation, each with a clearly-labelled Christian comparison. Read the sources, and see for yourself.

Translation: James Legge, The Chinese Classics: Confucian Analects (1861, revised 1893), public domain, via Project Gutenberg (ebook 3330). Reproduced in full and in context; the sayings 15:23 (the negative Golden Rule), 6:28 (ren), 4:15 (the one thread) and 2:4 (the stages of life) were validated against the source before publishing. References follow Legge’s standard book:chapter numbering.

13 sayings that point toward Christ

• Analects 15:23“Tsze-kung asked, saying, 'Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?' The Master said, 'Is not RECIPROCITY such a word? What you do not want done t…”Read + Christian comparison (The Golden Rule) →
• Analects 12:2“Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, 'It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you we…”Read + Christian comparison (The Golden Rule) →
• Analects 6:28“1. Tsze-kung said, 'Suppose the case of a man extensively conferring benefits on the people, and able to assist all, what would you say of him? Might he be called perfectly virtuou…”Read + Christian comparison (Ren and love) →
• Analects 4:15“1. The Master said, 'Shan, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity.' The disciple Tsang replied, 'Yes.' 2. The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, saying, 'What d…”Read + Christian comparison (Ren and love) →
• Analects 12:22“1. Fan Ch'ih asked about benevolence. The Master said, 'It is to love all men.' He asked about knowledge. The Master said, 'It is to know all men.' 2. Fan Ch'ih did not immediately…”Read + Christian comparison (Ren and love) →
• Analects 7:29“The Master said, 'Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! virtue is at hand.'”Read + Christian comparison (Virtue and grace) →
• Analects 15:8“The Master said, 'The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their…”Read + Christian comparison (Virtue and grace) →
• Analects 2:7“Tsze-yu asked what filial piety was. The Master said, 'The filial piety of now-a-days means the support of one's parents. But dogs and horses likewise are able to do something in t…”Read + Christian comparison (Family and honour) →
• Analects 1:11“The Master said, 'While a man's father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct. If for three years he does not alter from the way of hi…”Read + Christian comparison (Family and honour) →
• Analects 15:20“The Master said, 'What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others.'”Read + Christian comparison (The superior person) →
• Analects 4:16“The Master said, 'The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain.'”Read + Christian comparison (The superior person) →
• Analects 2:15“The Master said, 'Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.'”Read + Christian comparison (Learning and wisdom) →
• Analects 2:4“1. The Master said, 'At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. 2. 'At thirty, I stood firm. 3. 'At forty, I had no doubts. 4. 'At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. 5. 'At sixt…”Read + Christian comparison (Learning and wisdom) →

Frequently asked questions

What are the Analects of Confucius?

The Analects (Lun Yu) are a collection of about 500 sayings and short dialogues in 20 books, gathered by the disciples of Confucius (551 to 479 BC), the foundational text of Confucianism, on virtue, the family, learning, and how to live well together. This page indexes only the sayings that carry a genuine, clearly-labelled comparison to the teaching of Jesus.

What translation is used?

James Legge's translation from The Chinese Classics (1861, revised 1893), which is in the public domain, sourced from Project Gutenberg. The sayings are reproduced in full and in context, and the key passages 15:23, 6:28, 4:15 and 2:4 were validated against the source before publishing.

Does Living Bread change the meaning of the Analects?

No. We reproduce each saying accurately and describe its meaning within Confucianism fairly. Any comparison to Christian belief is clearly labelled as a Christian comparison, never presented as the Analects' own meaning.