The Morals of Confucius, a Chinese Philosopher

London Printed for Randal Taylor, 1691 [but 1780]. 8vo., contemporary calf with plain sides; spine with five raised bands each surrounded by double gilt fillets and a morocco title label. Lacking usually missing frontis. All edges sprinkled red. An altogether UNSOPHISTICATED copy in WONDERFUL CONDITION..This is a reprint of the Randal Taylors 1691 edition with a false imprint. It was translated and abridged from the Latin translation of Prospero Intocetta, Philippe Couplet and others or from an intervening French translation attributed to Louis Cousin or Jean de la Brune.Confucius is thought to have lived from 551-479 B.C. and is considered to be a political (truncated) and ethical philosopher and would-be reformer who, although he failed to achieve his personal ambitions and successes, taught a large circle of disciples who carried on, developed, and greatly altered his teachings. The result was that by the second century B.C. his ideas formed the dominant philosophy of China until the early twentieth century. The work here begins with a Preface, followed by chapters that deal with his ideas on Morals; it concludes with a section entitled, Maxims, of which there are LXXX. A difficult to find book on all accounts and UNCOMMON in such fine condition. FINE COPY IN CONTEMPORARY CALF (Inventory #: 1500.1691 [but 1780])