The Analects (; ; Old Chinese: "u ŋ(r)aʔ"; meaning "Selected Sayings"), also known as the Analects of Confucius, is an ancient Chinese book composed of a large collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been compiled and written by Confucius's followers. It is believed to have been written during the Warring States period (475–221 BC), and it achieved its final form during the mid-Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). By the early Han dynasty the "Analects" was considered merely a "commentary" on the Five Classics, but the status of the "Analects" grew to be one of the central texts of Confucianism by the end of that dynasty.