Enriched Wisdom -- First Growth Power Book Collection (Color · Phonetic Notation · Illustration Version)

Author: Qu Bo, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The Enriched Classic of Wisdom is a highly influential textbook for young learners, and its authorship and composition date are now uncertain. During the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, a scholar named Zhou Xitao began studying The Enriched Classic of Wisdom in his spare time and revised the original text, publishing The Revised Enriched Classic. The emergence of The Revised Enriched Classic indicates that The Enriched Classic of Wisdom had already gained widespread popularity in dealing with life and society by the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. The content of The Enriched Classic of Wisdom is truly remarkable. This wonderful text, spanning thousands of characters, presents the principles of life and social conduct in the form of maxims, elucidating profound life philosophies. These incisive maxims and aphorisms are not mere empty sayings of the author but a perfect summary of the wisdom of Chinese people in dealing with life. The Enriched Classic of Wisdom arranges numerous classical maxims in rhyming form, with varied syntax and flexible changes, making it rhythmic and easy to recite. It is close to colloquial language, demonstrating a strong vitality. For example, in discussing diligence and cherishing time, there are sayings like "An inch of time is an inch of gold; an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time" and "If one does not strive when young, they will only regret when old." In discussing relationships with teachers and friends, there are "A single conversation with a wise person is better than ten years of study" and "When drinking with a friend, one drinks freely; when composing poetry, one composes for those who understand." In discussing social conduct and self-cultivation, there are "How can one always please everyone? One only seeks to live with a clear conscience" and "A gentleman loves wealth, but only acquires it through proper means." There are also discussions on life philosophy, such as "Loving one's children too much leads to their pity; intelligence can sometimes lead to one's own downfall." And so on. In The Enriched Classic of Wisdom, such maxims are everywhere. These classic sayings are often on people's lips, with speakers being concise yet eloquent, and listeners familiar with them and readily understanding their meaning. No further explanation is needed—this is the charm of The Enriched Classic of Wisdom. To help children become familiar with this classic, we have selected hundreds of classic maxims from it, grouping those with similar meanings together. They are mainly divided into four parts: "Diligence and Cherishing Time," "Good Teachers and Beneficial Friends," "Social Conduct and Self-Cultivation," and "Life Philosophy." The "Social Conduct and Self-Cultivation" section is further divided into six chapters: "Being Kind to Others," "Tolerant and Magnanimous," "Honesty and Integrity," "Diligence and Frugality," "Seeking Truth and Pragmatism," and "Humility and Caution." Each group of maxims includes not only interpretations but also corresponding anecdotes and stories, accompanied by numerous exquisite illustrations, to fully showcase the rich connotations of these sayings. Additionally, 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.