# The Analects: a guide to learning and reflection

Explore every book from Xue Er to Yao Yue through learning, trust, evaluation and responsibility. The text records conversations involving Confucius and his disciples.

All 20 books, plus three focused idea guides.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects

## Complete chapter index

### [Xue Er: learning and trust](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-01-xue-er-learning-and-trust)

Explores repeated practice, daily reflection, trust, ritual and putting learning into everyday conduct.

Business question: After training, try one method in an actual task; record what worked and what was difficult, then choose the next practice.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-01-xue-er-learning-and-trust.en.md)

### [Wei Zheng: governance and judgment](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-02-wei-zheng-governance-and-judgment)

Presents conversations on governance by virtue, study and reflection, acknowledging knowledge limits, family conduct and trust.

Business question: In a decision meeting, separate verified facts from hypotheses; investigate an unknown that could change the conclusion.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-02-wei-zheng-governance-and-judgment.en.md)

### [Ba Yi: ritual and substance](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-03-ba-yi-ritual-and-substance)

Discusses ritual and music, appropriate conduct and the intentions that give formal actions substance.

Business question: If a recurring meeting has become ceremonial, define the decision and required materials; revise agenda items that serve no purpose.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-03-ba-yi-ritual-and-substance.en.md)

### [Li Ren: values and conduct](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-04-li-ren-values-and-conduct)

Considers humane conduct, the relationship of gain and right action and learning from others while examining oneself.

Business question: Even for a profitable opportunity, check customer commitments and quality standards; state refusal conditions before accepting it.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-04-li-ren-values-and-conduct.en.md)

### [Gong Ye Chang: people and evaluation](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-05-gong-ye-chang-people-and-evaluation)

Evaluates people through conversations and conduct, without treating speech, ability and action as equivalent.

Business question: For hiring or assignment, examine work samples, past behavior and the person’s preferences separately rather than relying on impressions.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-05-gong-ye-chang-people-and-evaluation.en.md)

### [Yong Ye: development suited to the person](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-06-yong-ye-development-suited-to-the-person)

Explores personal qualities, attitudes to learning, humane conduct and instruction suited to the learner.

Business question: Before assigning identical training, check each person’s work and current proficiency; choose their next practical task.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-06-yong-ye-development-suited-to-the-person.en.md)

### [Shu Er: continuing to learn](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-07-shu-er-continuing-to-learn)

Describes Confucius’s approach to learning, teaching, learning from others and relating knowledge to practice.

Business question: Do not copy another department’s success unchanged; compare its conditions with your own and choose a part to test.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-07-shu-er-continuing-to-learn.en.md)

### [Tai Bo: responsibility and continuity](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-08-tai-bo-responsibility-and-continuity)

Considers virtue, ritual, learning and the weight of responsibilities sustained over time.

Business question: For a long project, support commitment with handoffs, records and backup ownership when someone is absent.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-08-tai-bo-responsibility-and-continuity.en.md)

### [Zi Han: change and persistence](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-09-zi-han-change-and-persistence)

Uses conversations and conduct to examine continued learning, passing time and responding to difficulty.

Business question: When improvement stalls, make progress visible in small units; distinguish reasons to persist from conditions requiring change.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-09-zi-han-change-and-persistence.en.md)

### [Xiang Dang: everyday conduct](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-10-xiang-dang-everyday-conduct)

Records concrete conduct in public and everyday settings, including dress, food and ritual.

Business question: Teach service or meeting conduct through observable actions and their purposes, then check whether the procedure works in practice.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-10-xiang-dang-everyday-conduct.en.md)

### [Xian Jin: differences between people](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-11-xian-jin-differences-between-people)

Records disciples’ characteristics and responses, showing that guidance to a similar question can depend on the person.

Business question: When an instruction fails, check experience, decision authority and missing information; change the support offered.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-11-xian-jin-differences-between-people.en.md)

### [Yan Yuan: humane conduct and trust](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-12-yan-yuan-humane-conduct-and-trust)

Answers questions on humane conduct, self-discipline, consideration for others, governance and trust.

Business question: When designing a service process, inspect customer burdens such as unclear explanations and cancellation effort alongside the provider’s convenience.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-12-yan-yuan-humane-conduct-and-trust.en.md)

### [Zi Lu: execution and cooperation](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-13-zi-lu-execution-and-cooperation)

Explores execution, the relationship of names to responsibilities, harmful haste and cooperation without enforced agreement.

Business question: In a divided meeting, clarify purpose and roles, record objections as conditions and choose a comparative test.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-13-zi-lu-execution-and-cooperation.en.md)

### [Xian Wen: evaluating conduct and restraint](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-14-xian-wen-evaluating-conduct-and-restraint)

Collects discussions of people, governance, words and conduct, gain and right action, courage and restraint.

Business question: Evaluate outcomes alongside methods, burdens on others and fulfillment of commitments rather than using numbers alone.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-14-xian-wen-evaluating-conduct-and-restraint.en.md)

### [Wei Ling Gong: correction and judgment](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-15-wei-ling-gong-correction-and-judgment)

Discusses learning, correcting mistakes, consideration, evaluating statements separately from speakers and standards for action.

Business question: Once a mistake is established, assess the impact and define correction and recurrence checks before adding defensive explanations.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-15-wei-ling-gong-correction-and-judgment.en.md)

### [Ji Shi: authority and responsibility](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-16-ji-shi-authority-and-responsibility)

Examines political power, responsibility associated with a position, relationships, learning and restraint.

Business question: State what leaders must check and what the team may decide, instead of delegating responsibility for a problem’s reporting entirely downward.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-16-ji-shi-authority-and-responsibility.en.md)

### [Yang Huo: dispositions and learning](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-17-yang-huo-dispositions-and-learning)

Explores dispositions and habits, the relationship of virtues such as kindness or courage to learning, and language and music.

Business question: Look for situations where a strength causes problems, such as speed creating omissions or caution delaying decisions; add a compensating procedure.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-17-yang-huo-dispositions-and-learning.en.md)

### [Wei Zi: choosing whether to serve](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-18-wei-zi-choosing-whether-to-serve)

Examines whether to serve or withdraw amid political disorder through accounts of figures and conversations with recluses.

Business question: When deciding whether to remain in a project, assess conditions you can change, obligations to honor and consequences of leaving.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-18-wei-zi-choosing-whether-to-serve.en.md)

### [Zi Zhang: disciples on learning](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-19-zi-zhang-disciples-on-learning)

Collects disciples’ discussions of learning, relationships, trust, roles and Confucius’s teaching.

Business question: If a policy is interpreted differently, collect actual decisions and distinguish shared criteria from conditions producing disagreement.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-19-zi-zhang-disciples-on-learning.en.md)

### [Yao Yue: conditions of governance](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-20-yao-yue-conditions-of-governance)

Addresses succession, responsibilities of governance, conduct to cultivate or avoid and understanding language and people.

Business question: Before changing management policy, prepare explanations, training and criteria rather than suddenly demanding results.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-20-yao-yue-conditions-of-governance.en.md)

## Focused ideas

### [Learn anew from the past](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/review-to-discover)

Connect reflection to the next hypothesis worth testing.

Business question: When retrospective documents accumulate without changing the next project.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/review-to-discover.en.md)

### [Study and reflection](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/learn-and-think)

Understand a reference and test it under your own conditions.

Business question: When a team is about to copy another company’s success case directly.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/learn-and-think.en.md)

### [Knowing and not knowing](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/acknowledge-unknowns)

Preserve unknowns and choose the checks that matter to the decision.

Business question: When a proposal mixes verified figures with a team member’s predictions.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/acknowledge-unknowns.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0