1.
the Analects of Confucius
The collection of the sayings and dialogues of Confucius (孔子), compiled by his disciples. Studied in Japan for centuries and the source of many set phrases and four-character idioms.
Cultural note
Phrases from the Analects that are still everyday Japanese:
- 温故知新: learn from the past to understand the new
- 過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如し: too much is as bad as too little
- 義を見てせざるは勇無きなり: to see what is right and not do it is cowardice
Common expressions
- 論語読みの論語知らず: one who reads the Analects but does not understand them; someone who knows the words but not the meaning