Thousand Poems

Author: Deng Qichun
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Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Wang Caigui, the initiator of the global "Children Reading Classics" movement and professor at Taizhong Normal University, believes that there is a vast amount to learn in life, which can be simply divided into scientific knowledge (such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry) and non-scientific knowledge (such as art, music, and literature). The transmission of scientific knowledge should be done through scientific methods, i.e., "teach the second step only after the first step is understood"; whereas the transmission of non-scientific knowledge should be done through the method of "exposure and gradual improvement." For every child, school exam scores are not important; what matters is cultivating their interest in learning and their ability to think and solve problems through education. The ancient saying goes, "At the age of three, one's destiny is determined." Research by child psychologists has found that 0-13 is the best time for children's memory. During this period, their ability to absorb is as strong as a sponge. If you give them classics, they will absorb them deeply into their hearts. As they grow older, the essence of the classics will gradually ferment within them, and from then on, "walking alongside the classics and associating with the sages" will permeate their lives! Classics are works that awaken human nature and can open people's wisdom! Classics can reach the deepest parts of a person's soul, cultivating an elegant temperament and a kind-hearted character! Classical Chinese is the language of literature, the language most commonly used in classics, and a refined, concise, and precise language that has been honed and elevated over thousands of years. In the long history of Chinese civilization spanning 5,000 years, what has survived to this day are the classics, histories, philosophies, and collections, which contain a wealth of idioms, allusions, ethics, moral principles, cultural history, etiquette, and customs. Under the influence of these classics, children will radiate an elegant aura from within, becoming knowledgeable, polite, open-minded, and greatly improving their learning ability! As for teaching methods, we recommend adopting the six-character maxim summarized by Professor Wang Caigui: "Children, repeat after me." Let children read and recite classics more. As the saying goes, "Reading and reciting classics brings great benefits!" A Thousand Poems (Qiannian Shi) was once known as one of the "Three, Hundred, Thousand, Thousand" classics, alongside Three-Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand-Character Classic, and was a widely used textbook in early education. In the preface to Three Hundred Tang Poems, Sun Shu, a Qing Dynasty scholar known as Hongtang Tuishi, wrote: "In secular education, children are often taught A Thousand Poems because it is easy to memorize, which is why it has been passed down without interruption." According to historical records, the earliest edition of A Thousand Poems was the Selected Thousand Poems of Tang and Song Scholars by Liu Kezhuang from the Song Dynasty. Due to its excessive categorization and vast volume, it was not easily accessible. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Xie Fangde and Wang Xing, among others, revised and expanded it, naming it Supplemented and Revised A Thousand Poems. A Thousand Poems includes a wide range of poetic themes, such as poems about traveling, landscapes, banquets, farewell gatherings, friendship, and homesickness, among others. It is of great help to children in learning and memorizing Tang and Song poetry, understanding the artistic creation of Tang and Song poetry, and improving their cultural literacy. A Thousand Poems is simple, easy to understand, and flows naturally, making it easy to read and remember. Once memorized, it remains unforgettable for a lifetime, holding the top position among traditional poetic textbooks for early education.