《论语》书名释义

New Explanation of the Title of The Analects of Confucius

《论语》之“论”作“伦理”解、圆通解、“选择”解、“讨论编次”解、“编纂”解都是不对的,而应作“议”解。《说文解字》释“论”为“议”。《论语》、《孔子家语》、《孔子家语后序》和《汉书.艺文志》中的“论”也应释为“议”。《论语》之“论”的动作实施者肯定是孔子,而不是此书之编者。与《论语》同时代的其它著作中也出现了许多作“议”解的“论”字。“语”具有“言说”和“辩论”之义。《论语》书名之义就是:孔子的议论、评论之辞及其与弟子的言说、辩论之辞。

The character＂ Ltm＂ of The Ana/ects of Confucius doesn＇t mean＂ethics＂ ,＂comprehensive meanings＂ ,＂select＂, ＂discuss and compile＂ ,but means＂comment＂. Because The Explanation of Characters said the character＂hm＂ meant＂ comment＂. The character＂ hm＂in The Ana/ects of Confucius, Homely Languages of Confucius, The Postword for Homely Languages of Confucius, and Dynasty History＂ Arts and Literature＇ Records all means＂comment＂. The ＂comment＂was an action whose actor was Confucius, not the editors of the book. In the same period of Confucius, there were many character＂ lun＂s in other books, many of them meant＂ comment＂. The character＂yu＂ includes the meanings＂speak＂and＂discourse＂. So, the title of The Analects of Confucius means what Confucian commented, as well as what he and his students spoke and discoursed.