The Analects, as known as the Analects of Confucius, is a book that collects the saying of Confucius and his students. The Analects of Confucius is mainly composed of quotations and supplemented by narration, which reflects Confucius’ political views, ethical thoughts, moral concepts, and educational principles. It has been widely spread over the past 2500 years, this book is required reading in Chinese schools today. 

Why does Confucius have such a great charm, why can the analects of Confucius attract so many people’s attention? In my opinion, it is because the analects of Confucius conveys a simple and warm attitude towards life. It is like you face it as you face the sun and the air every day. This is the real charm of Confucius and the analects. I chose “Analects of Confucius” as my artifact because it can clearly reflect the subculture that I belong to, which is Confucianism. The core belief of Confucianism is to be honest with friends, to be filial to parents, and to be respectful to teachers. These core ideas of Confucianism made me who I am today.

I have been under the influence of the analects of Confucius ever since I began to read this book, I learned a lot from this book. It taught me how to get along with others and how to resolve conflicts with others. In a sense, the analects are the embodiment of my values and morals as well as those of most Chinese people. For example, I learned self-reflection from what philosopher Zeng said, “I daily examine myself on three points: whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful; whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere; whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher.”; I learned to treat people the way you want to be treated from what Confucius said, “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”; I learned to be honest from “I do not know how a man without truthfulness is to get on. How can a large carriage be made to go without the crossbar for yoking the oxen to or a small carriage without the arrangement for yoking the horses?” However, one of the biggest influences of this book on me is the understanding of filial piety, which is the basic code of manner and an important moral category in Confucian ethics. In the Confucian moral system, filial piety is an important factor of family harmony, but also the most basic personal code of ethics. When I was young, I didn’t understand why filial piety was so important in this book. I was even having some conflicts with my parents when I was in the rebellious period. Until I grew up and saw my parents working so hard for my future that I finally understood what it meant. If a person can not be filial to his parents, then how can he still take hold in this society?

The analects of Confucius is such a book that teaches us how to live. Everyone reading the analects of Confucius will have their own experience. It is a guide to our life, according to the direction it points to go forward, everyone can find their own goals in society.