The Morals of Confucius A Chinese Philosopher, Who flourished above Five hundred Years before the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Being one of the Choicest Pieces of Learning Remaining in the Nation.

CONFUCIUS,.

$3,000.00

Item Number: 138719

London: Printed for F. Fayram at the South Entrance into the Royal Exchange, 1724.

Rare third edition in English of The Morals of Confucius, the first published work to introduce English readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in full period or period-style speckled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled red. Small bookplates to the pastedown. Stated second edition, though actually the third edition (a reissue of the edition of 1706, with a cancel title page). In very good condition. All early editions are very rare, this in a particularly desirable binding.

"[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.