What are the Four Books of Neo-Confucianism?

The Four Books are the Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, and Mencius.

The grouping was promoted by the Song dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi, who selected and arranged these works as a core curriculum for Confucian study. The Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean originated as chapters in the Book of Rites, while the Analects preserves sayings associated with Confucius and the Mencius presents the teachings of the philosopher Mencius.

Zhu Xi wrote influential commentaries on the Four Books and treated them as an accessible starting point for moral and philosophical education. From the Song period onward, they became especially important in the examination system, which helped train officials for imperial government.

The Four Books are different from the Five Classics. The latter include older works such as the Book of Changes, Book of Documents, Book of Songs, Book of Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals, though lists and textual histories vary.