De gesprekken: gevolgd door Het leven van Confucius door Sima Qian (ca. 145–86 v. Chr.)

The principles of virtue and moral integrity seem so relevant today. I'm curious whether these ideas were intended for rulers or applicable to everyday life.

Some passages felt straightforward, while others were cryptic. I'm interested in how readers decode its sometimes poetic language.

Understanding the sources or traditions that influenced Confucius could shed light on how these teachings were preserved and transmitted.