Hosted by Elliott Bernstein · 🇺🇸 US · EN-US · 21 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Exploring the Analects takes you passage by passage through the collected teachings of Confucius. Host Elliott Bernstein brings each quote to life with fresh translations, historical context, and insights for Chinese learners—all while showing how 2,500-year-old ideas still speak to how we live, communicate, and connect today. Whether you're a philosophy buff, a student of Mandarin, or just curious about one of history's most influential texts, this podcast makes the Analects accessible, engaging, and surprisingly relevant.
Elliott Bernstein hosts Exploring the Analects, a society show with 21 episodes published.
What does it mean to call two countries "brothers"? Confucius said it about the ancient states of Lu and Wei — and for 2,000 years, scholars couldn't agree on what he meant. In passage 13.7, a cryptic seven-character phr
Clickbait is everywhere — political chaos, freak accidents, Florida Man. And Confucius, who had his own version of this problem 2,500 years ago, had a clear answer: stop feeding it entirely. Passage 7.21 records the four
You've had an undo button on your email for years. Return policies, apologies, second chances — so much of modern life is fixable that it trains us to be casual. But you can't un-rupture an artery, and you can't un-start
A seven-character riddle about a ritual wine vessel becomes a lesson in why names matter. In passage 6.25, Confucius picks up a 觚 (gū) — a tall, angular bronze cup designed to make you drink slowly — and finds it's lost
What is ritual really for? In this episode, four passages reveal why Confucius cared less about jade, silk, bells, and drums — and more about the bonds that wholehearted participation creates. We trace the meaning of 禮 (
Is Confucius against profit? Two short passages from Book 4 take on one of the most common misconceptions about Confucianism. In passage 4.12, Confucius warns that acting purely for personal advantage leads to resentment
When the ruthless King of Qin demands Zhao's most sacred treasure — the flawless jade disk known as the hé shì bì — in exchange for 15 cities he has no intention of giving, a humble scholar turned royal attendant steps u
The Mohists called the Confucians lazy, self-indulgent, and greedy — were they right? In this episode, we explore two passages about wealth, work, and knowing your worth. Confucius says he'd take an honest job holding a
A retelling of the classic Chinese historical tale of Lord Meng Chang, a generous prince who believed every person had a talent worth cultivating — and whose unlikely band of friends ended up saving his life. When a powe
Confucius spent his life trying to revive the Way of the ancient sage kings. In this episode, we explore his most famous lament — "Having in the morning heard that the Way was being put into practice, I could die that ev
Confucius had a front-row seat to one of the messiest love triangles in ancient Chinese history. A prince so beautiful the Duke didn't care he was sleeping with his wife. A priest so smooth-tongued he reshuffled a milita
Ever met someone so universally liked that you can't quite figure out what they actually stand for? Someone who's nice to everyone, never ruffles feathers, and somehow has zero enemies? Confucius had a word for that pers
Ever played a game where the only way to win is to screw over your friends? Where the rules basically force everyone to act like animals because one person's gain is another person's loss? Confucius had some thoughts abo
Got a friend who's always ready to throw hands? Someone whose first instinct when things go sideways is to start swinging? Confucius had a student like that—a wild child who showed up wearing rooster feathers and boar le
Ever been fooled by a frozen dinner box? The photo shows perfectly crispy mac and cheese next to a full turkey dinner with all the fixings. You get home, tear it open, and discover... a sad little tray of orange goop. Th
Does your boss talk with his mouth full, then fall asleep mid-sentence? Does he wake up standing at attention like he's receiving a medal, then march past everyone without saying good morning? Somebody needs a vacation—o
Could someone from a "nobody" family really deserve the corner office? In 6th-century BCE China, the answer was supposed to be no—but Confucius had other ideas. In this sixth episode, host Elliott Bernstein unpacks passa
Won't you be my neighbor? It's a simple question from a children's TV show—but Confucius asked something similar 2,500 years earlier, and he meant it as a test of your character. In this fifth episode, host Elliott Berns
When your toddler throws a tantrum, you tell them to "use your words." Turns out Confucius said something similar 2,500 years ago—but he was worried about the opposite problem. In this fourth episode, host Elliott Bernst
Would you take the "Employee of the Year" parking spot if no one was looking? In this third episode, host Elliott Bernstein explores passage 10.12—just five characters about where Confucius would and wouldn't sit. But wh
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Exploring the Analects is hosted by Elliott Bernstein. The show is categorised under society (culture) and has published 21 episodes.
Exploring the Analects has published 21 episodes.
Exploring the Analects regularly covers society, culture, philosophy. It sits in the society category, with a culture focus.
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