Ancient Chinese proverbs

Author: Chief Editor: Wang Shushan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-09-01
Features: Excerpt: Volume One - Education - Teacher's Way
[One may persuade people with words in a single day, but a book may persuade people for a thousand years] Persuading people to do good, teaching face-to-face, is the practice of the present age; writing books and establishing doctrines can be passed down for a thousand years. Ming Dynasty, Liu Zongzhou, Human Genealogy Records, Volume One: "～. To carve and print good books and widely disseminate them is also one way of being kind to others."
[Having a teacher and a method, knowledge is quickly attained, courage is quickly manifested, ability is quickly achieved, insight is quickly exhausted, and argumentation is quickly debated] Knowledge: "" in Chinese. It refers to the fact that with a teacher and a method, growth is faster. Those who are wise can quickly understand; those who are brave can quickly become formidable; those who are capable can quickly succeed; those with keen eyesight can quickly see everything clearly; those with eloquence can quickly master argumentation. Xunzi's Effect of the Rites: "～. Therefore, having a teacher and method is the great treasure of a person; without a teacher and method, it is the great calamity of a person." Xunzi's Effect of the Rites also states: "A person without a teacher and method, if knowledgeable, will surely become a thief; if brave, will surely become a robber; if capable, will surely become chaotic; if insightful, will surely become strange; if eloquent, will surely become a liar."
[When three people walk together, there must be a teacher among them] When a few people walk together, there must be someone among them whom one can learn from. It refers to the fact that those who are determined to improve themselves have role models everywhere they go. The Analects of Confucius, The Disciples Speak: "～. Choose the good aspects and follow them, and correct the bad aspects." The Collection of Famous Scholars of the Song Dynasty states: "When three people walk together, there must be a teacher among them."
[The ambition of a man is to govern the state, hoping that all people in the four directions will have settled living environments] "Rèn" (rèn) means a sleeping mat. The ambition of a man is to govern the state, and his thoughts are of a stable living environment for all the people in the country. Ming Dynasty, Hai Rui, Poem on Qiao Xi Sending Zheng Yipeng: "～. A hundred li is not the dwelling place of a great man; how can the phoenix finally perch on thorns?"
[Great masters teach people with rules and regulations] Rules and regulations: compass and square, the method of a carpenter working with wood. Great masters teach people to work by following rules and regulations. It also refers to scholars who must follow the rules of learning. Mencius, Gaozi's Disciples: "～, scholars must also follow the rules."
[The difficulty of learning lies in having a strict teacher] Strict teacher: respect for the teacher. In learning, there is a fundamental and important requirement, which is to truly respect the teacher. The Rites of Zhou, Records of Learning: "～. Only when the teacher is respected can the way be respected."
[The Master teaches in four ways: literature, practice, loyalty, and trustworthiness] The Master teaches students in four aspects: literature of past generations, social practice, loyalty to others, and honesty in speech. The Analects of Confucius, The Disciples Speak: "～. The Master said, 'I cannot see a sage, but if I can see a gentleman, that would be enough.'"
[Do not be arrogant about one's own goodness, and do not be lazy in teaching] It refers to the fact that even if one has virtue and good deeds, one should also guide and help others to do good; when teaching the next generation, one must be patient and not lazy. The Analects of Confucius, People's Officials: "～. Do not reveal one's faults, do not rely on broken trust, do not pursue evil, and do not leave unfinished business."
[Even an ordinary person can become a teacher for a hundred generations, and a single word can become a law for the world] As long as one upholds justice and is selfless, an ordinary person can become a model for a hundred generations, and a single word can become a law for the world. Song Dynasty, Su Shi, Monument to Han Wenyu in Chaozhou: "～. All of them can participate in the transformation of heaven and earth and influence the rise and fall of the times."
[Without rules and regulations, one cannot make square or round] Compass: a tool for drawing circles. Square: a tool for drawing squares. Without a compass and square, one cannot accurately draw circles and squares. It refers to the fact that without strict teaching, one cannot produce qualified talents. Mencius, Lilou's Upper Chapter: "The clarity of Lilou, the skill of Gongshuzi, ～."
[Not valuing one's teacher and not cherishing one's resources will lead to great confusion even if one is naturally intelligent] Not respecting the teacher for advice and not cherishing resources for learning will lead to great confusion even if one is naturally intelligent. Laozi, Chapter 27: "The unprofitable person is the resource of the profitable person. ～."
[The duty of being a teacher lies in winning the truth and practicing righteousness] The duty of a teacher is to promote truth and practice justice. The Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, Encouraging Learning: "～. When reason prevails and righteousness is established, then one's position is respected."
[Being a teacher is originally only happy to educate and make people talented] It refers to the fact that as a teacher, one is originally only happy to educate students to become talented, and everything else is not considered. Song Dynasty, Lü Zuxian, Outer Transmission of Shao Yi, Volume One: "The ancients ～. The public selection system has long become private favor."
[Be careful in the beginning of learning, and it is precious to be strict in the upbringing of a person] "Jué" (jué) means "his" or "their." In learning, one must be careful to start correctly; in upbringing, it is precious to be strict in the early stages. It refers to the fact that both learning and upbringing must value the beginning stage. Qing Dynasty, Wang Jialu, Encouraging Heng'er Poem: "～. High must be based on the foundation of the low, and great must start from the fine."
[Those who teach by example are followed, while those who teach by words are argued] Argue: to argue because of disagreement. Those who teach by example are followed by everyone; those who teach by words often argue. It refers to the fact that teaching by example is better than teaching by words. The Later Han Dynasty, Fifth Lun's Biography: "'If one's own conduct is not upright, even orders will not be followed.' ～." Qing Dynasty, Yin Huiyi, Teaching and Governing in Youzhou, Volume One: "Those who teach by example are followed, while those who teach by words are argued."
[Although water is good at flowing, without guidance, it will not flow; although human nature is intelligent, without teaching, it will not reach] Although water is naturally good at flowing, without guidance, it will not flow; similarly, human nature is intelligent, but without guidance, it will not reach. Tang Dynasty, Ma Zong, Yilin, Success and Failure in Ambition: "～. Learning is like planting, without learning, it will fall."
[When using people, use their strengths; when teaching, teach their weaknesses] When using people, focus on their strengths; when teaching, focus on their weaknesses. Using strengths can make people use their talents to the fullest; teaching weaknesses can help them become more talented. Qing Dynasty, Zhang Bohang, Essentials of Trapped Learning, Volume Four: "～."
[It is better to seek teachers than to seek learning] It is better to focus on seeking teachers than to focus on seeking learning, as it is more effective. It refers to the great value of guidance from a good teacher. Han Dynasty, Yang Xiong, The Words of the Law, Learning and Action Chapter: "Teacher, teacher, the fate of the young. ～, the teacher is the model of a person."
[The way to educate a person is to first emphasize character and then culture] It refers to the fact that to truly educate a person, one must first focus on cultivating his basic moral character, and then mention learning literature and arts. The History of the Southern Song Dynasty, Biography of Zhang Maodu: "The way of governing a country is better than trust; [The learning of memorization and questions is not enough to be a teacher] Those who obtain knowledge through rote memorization are not qualified to be teachers. It refers to the fact that learning is valuable in innovation. The Rites of Zhou, Records of Learning: "～. It must be to listen to the language! If one cannot ask, then teach them; if they do not understand after being taught, even if you give up, it is okay." Song Dynasty, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, Cheng's Pure Words, On Learning: "Memorization and articles are not enough to be a teacher."
[Saints do not have fixed teachers] Saints do not have fixed teachers. It refers to the fact that saints are humble and eager to learn, and anyone who can guide their moral and knowledge will be their teacher and learn from them. Tang Dynasty, Han Yu, On Teachers: "～. Confucius was a teacher of Tanzi, Changhong, Shixiang, and Laozi."
[The words of the sages and sages are all about teaching people to be good people] It refers to the fact that the words of the sages and sages are not profound or vast, but all have one purpose—to teach people to be good people and act firmly. Ming Dynasty, Yao Shunmu, Medicine Words: "Look ～. People do not believe in it and return to evil, it is really a pity." Qing Dynasty, Zhang Bohang, Essentials of Trapped Learning, Volume Two: "The words of the sages and sages are just about teaching people to be good people."
[ cannot be carved, and dung walls cannot be plastered] Plaster: to plaster. Rotten wood cannot be carved, and dung walls cannot be plastered. It refers to people who willingly abandon themselves and are not educable. The Analects of Confucius, Gongyuchang: "Zaiyu took a nap during the day. The Master said, '～!'" Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong, Baopuzi, Outer Chapter, Broader Parables: "Rotten wood, it does not accept the decoration of carving."
[Education without discrimination] It refers to the true meaning of education being for the whole society, regardless of race, wealth, region, or wisdom. The Analects of Confucius, Weilin Gong: "The Master said, '～.'"
[Teachers use their wisdom and knowledge to teach] It refers to the fact that as a teacher, one must use all one's wisdom and knowledge to teach students knowledge and truth without reservation, which is the duty of a teacher. The Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, Watching Teachers: "Yan Hui to Confucius is like Zengcan to his father. The ancient sages respected teachers like this, so ～."