Chinese classics in English

The founding books of Chinese thought and storytelling, each in a public-domain English translation credited to its translator and edition. Works marked “bilingual text” carry the Chinese original as well: hover or tap a character to read its pinyin and its meaning.

dialogues

The Analects of Confucius

Confucian Analects — Lunyu

Confucius · translated by James Legge (1893) · bilingual text

“Chapter I. 1. The Master said, Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?”
treatise

Tao Te Ching

The Tâo and its Characteristics

Lao Tzŭ · translated by James Legge (1891) · bilingual text

“The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.”
treatise

The Art of War

Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War

Sun Tzŭ · translated by Lionel Giles (1910) · bilingual text

“1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”
novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

San Kuo — Sanguo yanyi

Lo Kuan-chung · translated by C. H. Brewitt-Taylor (1925) · bilingual text

“Empires wax and wane; states cleave asunder and coalesce. When the rule of Chou weakened seven contending principalities sprang up, warring one with another...”