The Analects

Compiled in the early Warring States period, this foundational text is a collection of the words and deeds of Confucius, meticulously recorded by his disciples and their followers. The book consists of twenty chapters, primarily featuring aphorisms and occasional dialogues. It encompasses a vast array of subjects, including politics, ethics, education, and the traditional rites and music. Carved into the Eastern Han dynasty's Xiping Stone Classics, it stands as one of the earliest monumental stone inscriptions of Confucian teachings. As early as the Han dynasty, it had already been widely adopted as a standard primer for young children.