Enriched Wisdom Classic

Author: Qu Bo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The Enriched Classic is a highly influential textbook for young learners, and its authorship and composition date are now uncertain. During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, a scholar named Zhou Xitao began studying The Enriched Classic in his spare time and revised the original text, publishing The Revised Enriched Classic. This indicates that The Enriched Classic had already gained widespread popularity for guiding conduct and daily life by at least the Tongzhi period.
The content of The Enriched Classic is truly remarkable. This brilliant text, spanning thousands of characters, presents the art of conduct and daily life in the form of maxims, elucidating profound life philosophies. These incisive maxims and aphorisms are not arbitrary sayings but a perfect summary of the wisdom of Chinese people's experiences in dealing with life.
Written in rhyming prose, The Enriched Classic arranges numerous classic maxims in an interwoven and flexible style. The sentences flow rhythmically, making them easy to read and recite, and their proximity to spoken language demonstrates their enduring vitality. For example, in discussing diligence and cherishing time:
"An inch of time is an inch of gold; an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."
"If one does not strive when young, they will only regret when old."
In discussing relationships with teachers and friends:
"A single conversation with a wise person is better than ten years of reading."
"When drinking with a friend, one drinks with a friend; when reciting poetry, one recites with those who understand."
In discussing conduct and self-cultivation:
"How can one always please everyone? One only seeks to live without regrets."
"A gentleman loves wealth, but only acquires it through proper means."
And in discussing life philosophies:
"Loving one's children too much leads to their pity; intelligence can sometimes lead to one's own misfortune."
And so on. In The Enriched Classic, such maxims are abundant. These classic sayings are often on people's lips—those who speak express concisely yet eloquently, while those who listen recognize them instantly and understand their meaning readily. No further explanation is needed. This is the charm of The Enriched Classic.
To help children familiarize themselves with this classic, we have selected hundreds of classic maxims, grouping those with similar meanings together. They are mainly divided into four parts: "Diligence and Cherishing Time," "Good Teachers and Beneficial Friends," "Conduct and Self-Cultivation," and "Life Philosophies." The "Conduct and Self-Cultivation" section is further subdivided into six chapters: "Being Kind to Others," "Tolerant and Magnanimous," "Honest and Upright," "Frugal and Content," "Seeking Truth and Being Pragmatic," and "Humble and Cautious."
In addition to translations, each group of maxims includes relevant anecdotes and numerous exquisite illustrations to fully showcase their rich. Moreover, to facilitate children's reading, the entire book is annotated with Pinyin. Through reading this classic, children are sure to broaden their horizons, gain knowledge, and become smarter and more thoughtful.