Confucius, The Analects: Chinese thought on how to live

So I have had an in depth look over my plan today, and Herodotus, that I've just finished reading, is not scheduled to post until the ninth of August. So there may be some slight changes to the plan coming. I'm not sure exactly what they are yet but it might be as simple as posting more often while we get through the back log. Nothing is set in stone yet and I have a lot of writing to do in the mean time. Watch this space.

Synopsis
The Analects is a brief collection of sayings and writings from Confucius and his disciples. It centers around the Superior Man and how he interacts with society around him. The focus is on "The Way" or the moral and good way under Heaven. The Chapters are told as conversations between the master and his disciples and are considered to be written by the disciples after Confucius' death. It covers, as part of "The Way", Virtue, Ritual and Goodness and how they enrich the Superior Man.

Reflections
We know that the Chinese have taught Confusionism and it shows. I found this an interesting window into why the Chinese are so big on respecting their parents. This text teaches that to do as your parents instruct is part of "The Way" of the superior man.
It is also interesting to see the basic threads of "keeping face" starting to tie themselves together, with its emphasis on acting the part no matter what. This is something we see strongly in a lot of Asian cultures, to differing degrees. There would be nothing worse than to bring dishonour on your family. It remind me a little of Mushu in Disneys Mulan "Dishonour on you, Dishonour on your cow, dishonour on your whole family".

Comparisons
There is not a whole lot to compare the Analects to as it is both my first text from an Asian view point as well as the first philosophical text. We won't see any western philosophy for quite sometime yet. The one way we can compare it is if we consider it a religious text. It has definitely been follow like a religion at times but it does not have a higher power  of any type or heaven. but like a lot of religious texts it does spend a lot of time on how you should live. It focuses on the morality of the Superiour man, while the advice itself is different it is similar to the book of proverbs in the bible in its short pithy statements on how best to live.

Have you read The Analects? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read The Analects but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Analects.