Laozi · Great Learning · Doctrine of the Mean ((Pinyin Edition))

Author: Writing Group of "Essential Chinese Traditional Culture Series for Students"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: As the saying goes, "Ten years to grow a tree, a hundred years to raise a person." Nurturing an individual requires long-term, subtle (influence), making early childhood education particularly important. It plays a crucial role in shaping one's values, establishing character, and developing intelligence. But what should children read? Many experts recommend reading the classics of Chinese culture. The term "classic" refers to books that contain rich and representative eternal principles, "able to teach the eternal norms of life." After being tested by the river of history, these books have even greater timeless value, allowing us to experience the brilliance of our ancestors' wisdom without being constrained by time and space. Although our traditional culture has spanned thousands of years, some cultural essence in our national studies remains closely related to the present, such as integrity, self-improvement, self-cultivation, and filial piety. These are all outstanding characteristics of traditional Chinese virtues and culture. Especially in today's society, it is not enough to give children knowledge; we must also teach them how to be good people. In this way, the philosophy of life contained in ancient culture will play a significant role. Moreover, children have excellent memories, so they should be encouraged to read valuable books during their most receptive years. On one hand, this allows them to learn ancient culture, gain knowledge, and enhance their cultural (refinement); on the other hand, they can draw wisdom from it. As children grow older and gain more experience, all of this will become invaluable spiritual wealth, benefiting them throughout their lives. To make our "classics" more accessible to children, we have made efforts in selecting the book list and arranging the content. First, we selected representative book titles that are both rich in Chinese culture and easy to read, including The Analects, Laozi·Daxue·Zhongyong, The Art of War·36 Stratagems, The Book of Songs, Sources of Ancient Poetry, Three-Character Classic, Mencius, The Book of Documents, A Thousand Character Classic, Juexue Qionglin, Zhuangzi, Chuci, Rhythm Enlightenment, Rules for Students, Hundred Family Surnames, and Enriching Wisdom. Second, in terms of content arrangement, we have made the following efforts: The original text is presented in large fonts with Pinyin annotations, making it more eye-catching and easier to read; translations are included to help children grasp the essence of the entire text, making it easier to overcome any obstacles; word and phrase annotations are provided to help children understand the specific meanings of words and phrases, giving them a basic understanding of ancient literature; illustrations are added to make the text more vivid; and some books include introductory stories to enhance reading interest. All these efforts will help young readers better learn ancient culture.