Three Character Classic · Hundred Family Surnames · Thousand Character Characters · Disciple Guidanc

Chapter 2 Three Character Classic (1)
"San Zi Jing" is a traditional Chinese children's enlightenment book. Since its birth, it has become a leader in Chinese traditional elementary studies and has been widely circulated.For hundreds of years, it has been known to all women and children, and has been well-known to every household, with profound influence.Its compilation achievements and great influence are beyond the reach of other elementary readers.Zhang Taiyan, a master of modern Chinese studies, said: "The book first lists the famous things of the party, and then the classics and history, so it is slightly prepared for those who are enlightened." And the educational philosophy, the teachings of various schools of thought, it is an essential reading material for enlightenment and learning.

The original "San Zi Jing" was compiled by Wang Yinglin in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is short in form, with three characters and one sentence, two sentences and one rhyme, and it is easy to read.There are vivid and interesting stories of historical figures in the content, which contain profound ideological principles; the expression has been tempered, has a strong appeal, and also has the subtle function of educating people.The book has been continuously added since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the early years of the Republic of China, Zhang Taiyan, a master of Chinese studies, made supplementary revisions and named it "Re-editing the Three-Character Classic".

Such a book is regarded as a classic and continues to circulate, so it must have its unique cultural value and ideological charm. The charm of "San Zi Jing" lies in its thought-provoking educational thoughts, emphasizing the importance of education to people, and at the same time expounding the principles, methods, attitudes and contents of how to educate.A person first learns to be a human being before he learns to do things, learn the ethics of being a human being, know how to be filial to his parents, know how to respect teachers, and then learn knowledge.Blindly pursuing the means of earning a living and imparting knowledge and skills without moral education will undoubtedly cause adverse consequences that everyone can see.Let us draw rich nutrition from the broad and profound Chinese traditional culture, and actively absorb and apply it.

At the beginning of human beings[1], nature[2] is inherently good[3], natures are similar, habits[4] are far apart.

【Note】

[1] Early: The meaning of beginning, here refers to the time when a person is just born. [2] Xing: the meaning of personality, refers to human nature (innate quality and temperament). [3] Good: kindness, kindness. [4] Xi: Refers to habits, habits.

【Translation】

When people are born, their natures are good, but the process of acquired growth and learning environment are different, so there is a difference between good and bad dispositions.

[Interpretation]

The first six words discuss the characteristics of human nature from the perspective of human nature.Mencius said in "Gongsun Chou · [-]": "Without a heart of compassion, you are not a human. Without a heart of shame, you are not a human. Without a heart of humiliation, you are not a human. Without a heart of right and wrong, you are not a human." That is to say, Mencius believes that people have these four hearts, that a person’s nature is kind, and that everyone knows how to sacrifice oneself to save others when they need help, everyone knows not to run a red light when crossing the road, and everyone knows Be humble and courteous and act consciously. Everyone knows that they cannot harm the interests of others.The reason why there will be changes the day after tomorrow, and everyone will show differences, is because of the differences in the acquired growth environment and education.

Gou[1] does not teach, the nature is[2] moved[3], the way of teaching[4] is expensive[5] to specialize.

【Note】

[1] Gou: If, if. [2] Nai: So. [3] Migration: change, change. [4] Dao: method, reason. [5] Expensive: worthy of attention, valued.

【Translation】

If one is not properly educated from an early age, one's good nature will deteriorate.So the best way to educate is to make children concentrate on learning.

[Interpretation]

The best educational method is "expensive to specialize" to cultivate a good environment for learning.With the rapid development of society, the pursuit of success is enough to make people impetuous and not quiet enough, so we really need to calm down and think about it. To read a good book, you must first lay a solid foundation.Only with a solid foundation can we conduct special research on individual issues. The foundation requires multi-skills, while research requires specificity. Specialization and multi-skills are also unified. can.

In the past [1] Meng Mu [2], choose a neighbor [3], the son [4] does not learn, and cuts off the machine [5].

【Note】

[1] Past: Once upon a time, ancient times. [2] Meng Mu: Mencius' mother, surnamed Zhang, virtuous and virtuous. [3] Choose a neighbor: choose a good neighbor to live in. [4] Zi: Mencius, named Ke, styled Ziyu, was born in Zou during the Warring States period, and was later honored as "the sub-sage". [5] Machine 杼: machine, loom; 杼, shuttle.

【Translation】

During the Warring States period, Mencius's mother moved three times, just to let Mencius have a good learning environment.When Mencius played truant, Mother Meng broke the shuttle on the loom to educate him.

[Interpretation]

The reason why Mencius became a great scholar is inseparable from the good growth environment and intelligent education methods provided by Meng's mother.Mencius' father died when he was a child, and his family lived next to the cemetery.Because people often go to funerals, little Mencius learned how to cry at funerals under the influence of this environment since he was a child. Meng's mother felt that this was not good for the child's growth, so she moved.The family moved to the market, this time next door was a butcher shop that slaughtered pigs and sold meat, and soon Xiao Mencius learned how to chop and sell meat and bargain, so Meng's mother had to move again.Finally, he moved to the vicinity of the school, with a loud voice in his books. Influenced by the school, Mencius' words and deeds also became polite.It can be seen that a good learning environment, living environment and growth environment are conducive to the growth of children.

Dou Yanshan [1], Youyi Fang [2], taught the five sons, all famous [3].

【Note】

[1] Dou Yanshan: formerly known as Dou Yujun, born in the late Jin period of the Five Dynasties, hired famous teachers to run private schools at home, and later all five sons were admitted to Jinshi. [2] Yi Fang: A good educational method. [3] Yang: Very famous and well-known.

【Translation】

During the Later Zhou Dynasty of the Five Dynasties, there was a man named Dou Yujun in Yanshan who taught his son very well.His five sons are all excellent in character and learning, and have passed the imperial examination successively.

[Interpretation]

Dou Yanshan was born in a wealthy family and is a well-known wealthy family in the local area.It is said that he has a bad character and often bullies others. When people borrowed food from his family, he acted ignorantly when he was small and big. He did not accumulate virtue and had no children at the age of 30.Dou Yanshan was also worried about this. One night he dreamed that he had bad intentions and bad morals. If he didn't change his past and start a new life, he would not only have no children but also die short.At this point, Dou Yanshan secretly made up his mind to change his past mistakes and stop doing immoral things.Dou Yanshan opened a private school at home and invited famous teachers to teach.For those who have no money to send their children to private schools, he will take the initiative to pick up their children and waive tuition fees.Later his wife gave birth to five sons in a row.He devoted all his energy to cultivating his son, not only paying attention to knowledge learning, but also moral cultivation.Under his careful guidance, the five sons passed the imperial examination successively. This is the story of "five sons enthroned".At that time, a servant named Feng Dao once wrote a poem: "Yanshan Dou Shilang, there are righteous prescriptions for teaching children. An old Lingchun, five osmanthus fragrances." The "Dangui five branches fragrance" mentioned here refers to Dou Yanshan. The evaluation and praise of "Five Sons Enrollment".

Raising [1] not teaching, the fault of the father [2], lax teaching [3], laziness of the teacher [4].

【Note】

[1] Support: support. [2] Pass: fault. [3] Strict: thorough. [4] Lazy: lazy, slack.

【Translation】

It is the fault of the parents to only raise their children to eat and clothe but not to educate them well; it is the negligence of the teachers to neglect their duties only to educate the students without strict requirements.

[Interpretation]

During the period of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, there were two uncles and nephews—Shu Guang and Shu Shou, from officials to Taifu and Shaofu, both of whom had the official title of educating the prince.After five years of teaching, they all returned home due to illness and returned to the fields for the elderly.The emperor and the crown prince rewarded them with a lot of money to thank them for their education.After returning to their hometown, they only cared about holding banquets with family members, relatives and friends, and poor people in the village, and donated all the money to the poor in the village, instead of buying land and property for their children and grandchildren. People asked them why.He said that if the children and grandchildren work hard, they will naturally earn money; if they leave a lot of money, they may become dependent, lazy, and lose their fighting spirit, which is of no use.

It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to be strict with children and students. Strict education is the way to success. This is the reason why strict teachers lead to high-quality students.It is also said that the master leads the door, and the practice lies with the individual. This sentence also shows the importance of personal efforts.The dialectical philosophical thinking of the two arguments complement each other.

If the child [1] does not learn, it is not suitable for [2] [3], if the young [4] does not learn, what is the old [5].

【Note】

[1] Son: Children. [2] Non: No, it is not. [3] Yi: should, should. [4] Young: When you were young. [5] What is: what to do, what to do.

【Translation】

It is very wrong for children not to study hard.If you don't study hard when you are young, and when you grow old, you don't have knowledge and don't understand the principles of life, what can you do?

[Interpretation]

Yue Fei, a famous general of the Song Dynasty, said in "Man Jianghong": "Don't wait for nothing, the boy's head will turn white, and he will be sad." In adolescence, people's thinking is active and energetic. It is a good time to pursue academic success and succeed in career. If you are smart, you will definitely pay close attention to it. Time to study hard.Don't wait until the gray hair is gray, and then regret it.There is a joke that says: "If you are young and don't work hard, the boss will be sad. It doesn't matter, I am the second child." Then it is easy to laugh, because the "boss" here refers to when you are old, not the ranking.A joke is a joke, ignorance is not terrible, what is terrible is not knowing this ignorance.

Jade can't be cut [1], can't be made into a tool [2], people don't learn, don't know righteousness [3].

【Note】

[1] Zhuo: Engraving processing. [2] Device: the general term for utensils. [3] Righteousness: morality, ethics.

【Translation】

Jade cannot become an exquisite utensil without carving and processing; if a person does not study, he cannot know the book, the etiquette, and the understanding of righteousness.

[Interpretation]

Before jade is carved, it is just a beautiful stone.A person's road to success requires tempering and hard work to become a useful person.We often hear that some children are so smart that they are known as child prodigies, but child prodigies seem to have nothing extraordinary when they grow up.In the Song Dynasty, there was a child named Fang Zhongyong. His family lived on farming for generations. When he was five years old, he never knew pen, ink, paper and inkstone.Suddenly one day, he cried and asked for these things.Although my father was surprised, he still borrowed it from the neighbor.Zhongyong immediately wrote four lines of poems. The lines of the lines were about supporting parents and uniting the same race.People gradually treated his father as a guest, and some even paid for Zhongyong to write poems.His father thought this was not bad, so he was not allowed to study, and he was dragged around every day to visit visitors. Later, Fang Zhongyong was no different from ordinary people.Fang Zhongyong's comprehension ability is gifted, much smarter than ordinary people, but he did not become an ordinary person in the end because he was not well educated the day after tomorrow.Such gifted, intelligent and talented people have no training to become ordinary people. Then, those who are not born with ordinary talents and do not receive acquired education, it may be difficult to become extraordinary people!

As a son of man, when Fang[1] was young[2], relatives[3]teacher[4]friends, learning etiquette[5]yi.

【Note】

[1]方：正在、正当。[2]少：年少。[3]亲：亲近、尊敬。[4]师：师长、老师。[5]礼：礼貌。

【Translation】

As a child, you should get close to teachers and friends from an early age, so that you can learn the principles and etiquette of being a person and doing things from them.

[Interpretation]

In the process of passing on etiquette and cultural knowledge, it is the easiest and most effective way for the younger generation to learn from the elders.There is such a story: A man didn't want to support his old and sick father, so he found a basket and discussed with his son to put the old father in the basket and throw it into the ravine.After sending them off, the son went home with the basket on his back.His father asked him what he was keeping this basket for, and he said that he would keep it so that he could carry you later.Although the story is simple and exaggerated, it can't help but make people smile. In many cases, father and mother are definitely role models for children to follow.And fathers and mothers often set an example to motivate themselves to move forward.

Fragrance [1] nine [2] age [3], able to warm seats [4], filial piety to relatives, what should be held [5].

【Note】

[1] Fragrance: Huang Xiang, a native of Anlu, Hubei Province in the Eastern Han Dynasty, has read a lot of books, and was an official to Shangshuling. [2] Nine: quantifiers, table quantity. [3] age: age. [4] Mat: A sheet made of grass or reed, used by the ancients for sitting and lying down, and now it is usually used to make a bed or kang. [5] Execution: Implementation.

【Translation】

Huang Xiang, a native of the Eastern Han Dynasty, knew how to be filial to his father when he was nine years old. In winter, he used his own body temperature to warm his father's sleeping mat.This is what all those who honor their parents should practice and emulate.

[Interpretation]

Huang Xiang, courtesy name Wenqiang, was once the prefect of Weijun.He read Confucian classics extensively and studied academics intensively. He was known as "Unparalleled Under Heaven, Yellow Boy of Jiangxia".In summer, Huang Xiang used a fan to cool the mat on which his father slept; in winter, Huang Xiang used her own body temperature to warm the mat first, so that her father could have a good rest.As the saying goes: all good filial piety comes first.What is "filial piety", dismantling the text and interpreting the characters, "old" and "son", the parents who give us life and education should be respected and filial as children.

Rong [1] is four years old, can make pears, younger brother [2] Yu Chang [3], Yi prophet [4].

【Note】

[1] Rong: Kong Rong, styled Wenju, was a native of Lu in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the first of the seven sons of Jian'an, and the twentieth grandson of Confucius. [2] Brother: Same as "fraternity", filial piety, respect and love for elder brother. [3] Long: elder brother. [4] Know: know, understand.

【Translation】

When Kong Rong in the Han Dynasty was four years old, he knew how to let his elder brother eat big pears.This principle of respecting humility and loving elder brothers should be known by everyone from childhood.

[Interpretation]

Kong Rong was smart and extraordinary since he was a child.Once, someone looked at him coldly and said, "If you are young, you may not be good when you are older." It means that being smart when you are young may not be great when you grow up.Kong Rong's answer was not to quarrel with others, but to use others' spears to attack others' shields, and to fight back powerfully with what others said: "Yes, it seems that you were very smart when you were young." The seven brothers of Kong Rong's family, He is the sixth child. When the family eats pears, his elder brothers take the big ones, but he always picks the small ones.The family asked him the reason, and he said that I was the younger brother, so of course I ate the younger ones.Today our family is turned upside down, the younger the child, the bigger the pears, but the grandparents eat the smaller ones.Respecting and loving your elder brother is not only a manifestation of a friendly attitude, but also a manifestation of a person's self-cultivation.A person who treats others well is also easily respected and welcomed by others.

The first [1] filial piety, the second [2] knowledge [3], knowing a certain number [4], knowing a certain text [5].

【Note】

[1]首：首要，首先。[2]次：其次。[3]见闻：见到和听到的事。[4]数：指数目。[5]文：指文理。这里指圣贤故事的出处。

【Translation】

A person must first know how to be filial to his parents and love his elder brother; secondly, he must be well-informed, know numbers, know the digits of tens of millions, and know the source and allusions of articles.

[Interpretation]

Traditional Chinese education puts filial piety and fraternity first, that is, filial piety to parents, respect and love for elder brothers, followed by extensive knowledge, knowledge of numbers and literature. The "San Zi Jing" talks about the importance and necessity of a person's education.First of all, a person must understand the ethics and norms of being a person and dealing with things, know the principles of being a person, and then learn cultural knowledge.The following "Disciple Regulations" has "If you have spare energy, learn literature." A person must first be virtuous before being talented, and it is a terrible thing for a person to have no virtue. .

One [1] and [2] ten, ten and a hundred, a hundred and a thousand, a thousand and a thousand.

【Note】

[1] One: the beginning of number. [2] And: conjunctions.With, and.

【Translation】

One to ten is the basic number, ten ten is one hundred, ten hundred is one thousand, ten thousand is ten thousand... and so on.

[Interpretation]

The ancients believed that the number of all things begins with one, one produces two, two produces three, and three produces all things, using the decimal calculation method.Chinese enlightenment education also attaches great importance to mathematics education, focusing on the knowledge base of nature, just like today's elementary schools must learn the four arithmetic operations.Because only with a solid foundation, can there be extended development, and the same is true for being a person and doing things.

(End of this chapter)