Author
James Legge
1815-1897
James Legge (1815-1897) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by James Legge
The Chinese Classics — Volume 1: Confucian Analects
"The Chinese Classics — Volume 1: Confucian Analects" by James Legge is a translation published in the 19th century of ancient sayings attributed to Confucius. This foundational philosophical text explores moral cultivation through virtue, filial piety, and ritual propriety. Confucius taught that a nation's welfare depends on ethical leadership and individuals reconciling personal desires with social responsibility. His teachings shaped East Asian thought for millennia, emphasizing how properly educated people demonstrate respect, integrity, and consummate virtue in all aspects of life.
The Chinese Classics: with a translation, critical and exegetical notes, prolegomena and copious indexes (Shih ching. English) — Volume 1
"The Chinese Classics" by James Legge is a scholarly compilation of important Confucian texts that was produced in the late 19th century. This collection, spanning five volumes, includes translations, critical notes, and exegeses of the "Confucian Analects," "The Great Learning," and "The Doctrine of the Mean," among others. The book serves as a historic and philosophical resource for understanding the foundational texts of Confucianism, reflecting on their significance in the context of Chinese cultural and intellectual history. The opening of this work outlines the structure and significance of the Chinese classics, discussing the canonical titles that are regarded as authoritative within Chinese literature. It elaborates on the "Five Ching" and "Four Books," explaining the origins of these texts and their attributions to Confucius and his disciples. Moreover, this section introduces the historical challenges faced by these works, such as the burning of books during the Qin dynasty and subsequent efforts to recover and preserve classical literature. Overall, the beginning serves as a critical introduction to the importance of these texts for understanding Confucian philosophy and its enduring legacy in Chinese culture.
The Shih King, or, Book of Poetry From the Sacred Books of the East Volume 3
"The Shih King, or, Book of Poetry" by James Legge is a translation of the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry, comprising 305 works dating from the 11th to 7th centuries BC. This ancient anthology, one of the "Five Classics" traditionally attributed to Confucius, contains folk songs voicing common people's experiences—love, longing, farming, and political protest—alongside ritual hymns praising Zhou dynasty founders. Its four-syllable meter and distinctive rhyme patterns have shaped Chinese literary tradition for over two millennia, making it essential to understanding Chinese culture and language.