La Morale De Confucius, Philosophe De La Chine.

CONFUCIUS,.

$12,500.00

Item Number: 135381

Amsterdam: Pierre Savouret, 1688.

Rare first edition of The Morals of Confucius preceding the English translation, regarded as the first work which introduced readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in half vellum over marbled boards. In near fine condition. An exceptional example, scarce and desirable with only three examples appearing at auction in the last 90 years.

"[B]asically a translation of Le Morale de Confucius, philosophe de la Chine" (Savouret, 1688), The Morals of Confucius was "translated and abridged from the Latin translation of Prospero Intorcetta, Philippe Couplet, and others, or from an intervening French translation attributed to Louis Cousin or Jean de La Brune" (ESTC, T140229). Chinese philosopher Confucius’s principles had a commonality with earlier Chinese tradition with an emphasis on personal and governmental morality, ancestral veneration, respect for one’s elders, and strong family loyalty. His teachings left a legacy of disciples and gained widespread prominence under the Han and Tang Dynasties, became the official imperial philosophy of China after his death in 479 B.C.E., and remained the dominant philosophy in China until the early 20th century. Likely compiled and composed by his disciples after Confucius's death, the Analects, or Maxims, grew to be one of the central texts of Confucianism by the end of the Han Dynasty.