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A professor, named Li Ling, from the Chinese Department of Peking University has recently published a book entitled, Homeless Dog: Reflections on "The Analects of Confucius". In the book, Li comments that Confucius was only a "homeless dog" who, though with high aspirations, could not find a spiritual home in the real world. Reports in local media have  rumored that the School of Chinese Classics at the Renmin University of China has considered the book as mandatory for college students. This book has sparked a extremely controversial debate over the Internet.

In the book, Professor Li explores what exactly "The Analects of Confucius" is talking about and what kind of person Confucius was. With sharp language, he expounds a classic text which has been considered as a treasure by intellectuals for thousands of years as well as a "magic tool" by rulers.

According to Professor Li, "The Analects of Confucius" are a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples. Confucius was a Don Quixote-type figure and a "homeless dog" who had been busy "running about for a lifetime in vain."  According to Chinese tradition, anyone, like Confucius, who fails to find spiritual home in the real world is "homeless dog."

In response to the rumor, a teacher from the School of the Chinese Classics of the Renmin University of China clarified that they didn't launch a list for mandatory books, only having a list of recommended books. Furthermore, all the recommended books are classical ones and Li's best-selling book was not included.