There are different understandings and opinions about the writing of "The Analects" in history. Scholars of the Han and Tang dynasties generally believe that The Analects of Confucius was assembled by Confucius's disciples and his re-disciples, and that it was assembled shortly after the death of Confucius. The more specific statement is from "Hanshu Yiwenzhi":
The Analects of Confucius states that when Confucius responded to his disciples, people and disciples talked to each other and heard the Master's words. At that time, each of the disciples had their own notes. After the master died, his disciples discussed and compiled it, so it was called "The Analects of Confucius".
In addition, He Yan's "Analects of Confucius" quotes "Liu Xiangyan, the Lieutenant of Hanzhong Lei School: The twenty chapters of Lu's "The Analects" are all good words recorded by Confucius' disciples." Wang Chong's "Lun Heng Zheng Lun": "The disciples of the Analects of Confucius recorded the words and deeds of Confucius. There are many imperial edicts, hundreds of them." Zhao Qi's "Mencius' Inscription": "The Seventy-year-old Confucius "The Analects of Confucius" was compiled and compiled by Confucius' disciples. There is also a theory among scholars in the Han Dynasty that the collection of "The Analects of Confucius" was done by one or several disciples. For example, "Classic Interpretations" quotes Zheng Xuan as saying: "It was written by Zhong Gong, Zi Xia, etc." The same book "Analects on Phonetics" also says: "Zheng Xuanyun was written by Zhong Gong, Zi You, Zi Xia, etc." "The Analects of Confucius Chongjue" "Prophecy": "The sixty-four people of Zixia wrote Zhongni's subtle words to serve the prime king." "Selected Works·Bianming Lun" annotated "Fu Zi": "In the past Zhongni died, Zhong Gongzhi The disciples followed the words of Confucius and called them "The Analects of Confucius." This view is slightly different from the previous one, but it is certain that the "Analects of Confucius" was compiled and compiled by Confucian disciples, that is, the "Analects of Confucius" was written earlier. is consistent. The ancient narrative is brief. The above only talks about the beginning of the collection of "The Analects of Confucius", but does not explain the specific time of completion. Liu Zongyuan of the Tang Dynasty noticed that the "Analects of Confucius" contains a conversation between Zengzi and his disciples before his death (see "Tai Bo"), "Zengzi was forty-six years younger than Confucius, and Zengzi died of old age. When Zengzi, the secretary, died, Confucius also It’s far away. After Zengzi’s death, there were no traces of Confucius’s disciples. I think that the Analects of Confucius might not have been written until Confucius’s disciples did it. But he also said, "It may be said that Confucius's disciples tried to write down his words, but those who finally wrote his books were disciples of the Zeng family." [1] In fact, the Han people's statement is still recognized, but only supplements and explanations are made.