Wisdom Literature

18 books available

Instructional compositions of maxims, reflections, or exemplary cases addressing conduct and prudence. They arise in courtly, scribal, or household settings and frame ethical reasoning and practical judgment.

Mahabharata cover

Mahabharata

Vyasa • Indian

Early Upanishads cover

Early Upanishads

Anonymous • Indian

Dhammapada cover

Dhammapada

Anonymous • Indian

Heart Sutra cover

Heart Sutra

Anonymous • Indian

Zhuangzi cover

Zhuangzi

Zhuang Zhou • East Asian

Jātaka Tales cover

Jātaka Tales

Anonymous • Indian

Works and Days cover

Works and Days

Hesiod • Greek

Panchatantra cover

Panchatantra

Vishnu Sharma • Indian

Hebrew Bible cover

Hebrew Bible

Various • Levantine

Ifá Corpus cover

Ifá Corpus

Oral Tradition • African

Huainanzi cover

Huainanzi

Liu An • East Asian

Flower Ornament Sutra cover

Flower Ornament Sutra

Anonymous • Indian

Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra cover

Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra

Anonymous • Indian

Georgics cover

Georgics

Virgil • Roman

Liezi cover

Liezi

Lie Yukou • East Asian

Instructions of Shuruppak cover

Instructions of Shuruppak

Anonymous • Mesopotamian

Menog-i Khrad cover

Menog-i Khrad

Anonymous • Persian

Debate Between Sheep and Grain cover

Debate Between Sheep and Grain

Anonymous • Mesopotamian