What is the name of the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean? What does the famous Analects of Confucius mean when one is thirty years old?

The Analects covers politics, education, literature, philosophy, and the principles of life. There are 20 chapters and 492 chapters in the Analects, of which about 444 chapters record the conversations between Confucius and his disciples and contemporaries, and 48 chapters record the conversations between Confucius' disciples. So, what is the name of the Analects, Mencius, the Great Learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean? What does the famous Analects quote "Standing firm at the age of thirty" mean? Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network to answer these questions!

Contents of this article

1. What is the name of the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean?

2. What does the famous quote from the Analects of Confucius mean?

3. Sentences about learning in the Analects

Why are the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, and the Doctrine of the Mean collectively called

The Four Books.

The Four Books: Also known as the Four Books of the Masters, it refers to the four books of The Analects, Mencius, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean. Zhu Xi, a famous Neo-Confucianist in the Southern Song Dynasty, compiled two articles, The Doctrine of the Mean and The Great Learning, from The Book of Rites into separate books, and combined them with The Analects, which records the words and deeds of Confucius, and Mencius, which records the words and deeds of Mencius, to form the Four Books. The authors of the Four Books include Confucius, Zisi, Mencius, Chengzi, Zhu Xi, etc., and the time interval between their compilation is as long as 1,800 years. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean became official textbooks in schools and required readings for the imperial examinations, which had a great influence on ancient education.

What does the famous quote from the Analects of Confucius mean?

"Thirty years old, one should be able to stand on one's own feet" is an idiom from "The Analects of Confucius: On Government", which means that people should face all difficulties when they are 30 years old. This is Confucius' self-evaluation of his life status at the age of 30 in "The Analects of Confucius: On Government". There are many interpretations given by later generations for the comment "Thirty years old, one should be able to independently bear the responsibilities that he should bear by relying on his own abilities, and have determined his life goals and development direction". In a nutshell, at the age of 30, people should be able to face all difficulties calmly.

Sentences about learning in the Analects

1. Confucius said: "The wise are not confused, the benevolent are not worried, and the brave are not afraid." - "The Analects of Confucius·Zi Han"

2. To know what you know and to know what you do not know is true knowledge. ——The Analects of Confucius: On Government;

3. Confucius said: "At first, when I met people, I listened to their words and believed their actions; now, when I meet people, I listen to their words and observe their actions." - "The Analects of Confucius·Gongye Chang"

4. If a craftsman wants to do his work well, he must first sharpen his tools. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Duke Ling of Wei"

5. Confucius said: "At fifteen I set my heart on learning, at thirty I stood firm, at forty I had no doubts, at fifty I knew the will of Heaven, at sixty I was able to listen to others, at seventy I followed my heart's desire without transgressing the rules." - The Analects of Confucius, On Government;

6. Confucius said: "When substance prevails over culture, the person is barbaric; when culture prevails over substance, the person becomes pedantic. Only when both substance and culture are in harmony can one be called a gentleman." - The Analects of Confucius, Yong Ye;

7. Confucius said: "If one can review the old and learn the new, he can be a teacher." - The Analects of Confucius: On Government;

8. Be quick to learn and do not be ashamed to ask questions. —— "The Analects of Confucius·Gongye Chang"

9. Confucius said: "When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher. I will choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones." - "The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er"