Tasan's commentaries are extremely insightful also for a better grasp of the wider commentarial tradition. Kim's annotated translation remains of the highest quality. His explanations are perceptive and erudite. * Lukas Pokorny, Religious Studies Review * Every chapter is followed by the selected commentaries, supplemented and refuted by Tasan, upon which Kim in turn provides perceptive expositions. * Lukas Pokorny, Religious Studies Review, Vol 46, no 1 * Kim succinctly discusses the evolution of Tasan scholarship, the NKC 's genesis and contents, as well as Tasan's overall neo-Confucian thought, which he calls "Learning of Practical Principle". * Lukas Pokorny, University of Vienna, Religious Studies Review * The various materials of each chapter- the original text of the Analects, Dasan's grounds, arguments, and notes- are edited in such a clear manner that readers can comfortably peruse an entire chapter's meaning from various viewpoints. * Philosophy East and West * What Hongkyung Kim does in this book is to expound the deeper and authentic meaning of 'practical learning' by going back to Confucius' Analects. * Acta Koreana * The author takes his emphasis beyond the geographic domain of the Pacific in an effort to tackle the entire edifice of decolonization... When one adds McIntyres meticulous research [to these observations], one can only conclude that his work deserves the full attention of scholars and interested readers concerned with the last stages of the British Empire. * Rainer F. Buschman, Journal of New Zealand and Pacific Studies Issue 4.2 * I wholeheartedly applaud Hongkyung Kims indispensable contribution to this volume... This book is indispensable for understanding not only Dasans commentary on the Analects but also Dasans philosophical ideas and spiritual orientation. * Young-Chan Ro, Acta Koreana * The primary contribution of this translation, besides its readability, is the insight it provides into Dasan's thinking...[contributes] to a better understanding in the Western world of one of Korea's greatest moral philosophers. * Donald L. Baker, Reading Religion * I strongly recommend the book to students and scholars in the fields of history, philosophy, religious studies, or even literature who are interested in Asian and specifically Korean intellectual history. This will be a great academic resource. Dr. Kim's translation and commentaries are a kind of work that only masters can do. This volume will open up historical discussions on the history of Korean commentaries on the classical texts. * Suk Choi, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Towson University * This new translation is significant, providing scholars interested in the Analects, Korean Confucianism, and Confucianism in general an important resource. Dasan has his own unique interpretation of the Analects, either by siding with one of the traditional interpretations or by providing an unprecedented interpretation. So it is an important text to understand Dasan's own understanding of the Analects, Dasan's own philosophy, and the
Analects itself. Kim gives more than mere translation. He also provides a commentary, which...not only summarizes Dasan's view, but often situates it in the historical context in which Dasan is writing, including his exchanges on the relevant passages with his contemporaries. While there is an abundance of English
translations...there has not been a comprehensive English translation of the text including its long and rich commentary tradition until now. * Huang Yong, Professor, Department of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong *