Classics of National Studies for Beginners - Collector's Edition (Three-Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, Thousand-Character Classic, Rules for Students)

Author: Zhang Weicai, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Three Character Classic was written by Wang Yinglin during the Southern Song Dynasty and was frequently supplemented from the Ming Dynasty to the early Republic of China. It covers 5,000 years of Chinese history, culture, and ethics, concise in meaning yet very convenient for children to recite, earning the title "Crown of Primary Education." The Hundred Family Surnames emerged in the early Northern Song Dynasty, with its author unknown. Written in four-character verses, each line rhymes, making it easy to learn and remember, and highly practical. The Thousand-Character Classic was composed by Zhou Xingsi during the Southern Dynasties of the Liang Dynasty. With just a thousand characters, none repeating, it encompasses a vast scope while maintaining literary elegance, a rare achievement. The Rules for Students was written by Li Yuxiu, a scholar during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. Based on the sixth chapter of the Analects, "Students should be filial at home and respectful abroad, prudent and trustworthy, love all people broadly, and be close to benevolent individuals. If there is surplus effort, they should study literature," it is compiled in three-character lines with rhyming couplets, making it the best reading material for moral cultivation. The Household Precepts, also known as the Precepts of Zhu Zi for Family Management or the Family Instructions of Zhu Zi, was written by Zhu Boyu during the early Qing Dynasty. With the aim of "self-cultivation" and "family harmony," it summarizes the ancient principles of household management in over 500 characters, embodying the essence of Confucian methods for conduct. The Enlarged Wisdom Classic was compiled in the mid-Qing Dynasty, with its author unknown. Using rhyming maxims, proverbs, and exquisite literary quotes, it teaches the ways of conduct, with many lines widely circulated in folk culture, leading to the saying, "Learning the Wisdom Classic makes one eloquent." The Rime of the Willow Lad was written by Li Yu (also known as "Willow Lad") during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. Its content is extensive, organized by rhyme, with harmonious tones and resonant rhythms, making it the best for training children in poetry and couplet composition while mastering phonetic and rhythmic rules. The Essentials for Young Scholars was written by Cheng Dengji during the Ming Dynasty. It is categorized from astronomy and geography to birds, animals, flowers, and trees, arranged in an easy-to-read, easy-to-recite, and easy-to-remember manner, serving as a classic textbook for literature, history, and natural sciences. The saying goes, "Mastering the Essentials allows one to travel the world." The Great Learning is traditionally attributed to Zeng Can, a disciple of Confucius, and was completed during the Qin and Han periods. It discusses the grand principles of self-cultivation, family harmony, governance, and world peace, with the entire text revolving around "illuminating virtue," "renewing the people," and "reaching perfection," progressing in layers with clear structure and rigorous organization. The Doctrine of the Mean is traditionally attributed to Zisi, a disciple of Confucius, and was completed during the Qin and Han periods. Its central theme is the concept of "harmony," arguing that harmony is innate nature, the Dao, and the fundamental state of the universe—a highly harmonious and perfect realm. The ideas it promotes have had a profound influence on the formation of the Chinese character. The Analects is a compilation of the sayings and deeds of Confucius by his disciples and later followers, consisting of 20 chapters. Concise yet rich in meaning, it comprehensively reflects Confucius's philosophy, politics, culture, and educational thoughts, with many of its insights becoming widely used maxims and idioms. It is one of the most important works on Confucian thought. An old saying goes, "Half of the Analects can govern the world." The Mencius was written by Mencius with his disciples Wan Zhang and Gongsun Chou, comprising 7 chapters with 261 sections. Written in a dialogue form, its language is expressive and passionate, yet simple and flowing, with profound meaning and powerful momentum. Its content primarily discusses Mencius's advocacy of "benevolent governance," "the Way of the King," and the people-centered idea, "The people come first, the state second, and the ruler third." The Book of Songs is China's first collection of poetry, edited and compiled by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn period, including 305 poems from the early Western Zhou Dynasty to the mid-Spring and Autumn period over more than 500 years. The Book of Changes, also known as the I Ching, is the first of the Five Classics and the root of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Under the mystical guise of divination, it contains profound philosophical insights about change, making it the earliest surviving unique philosophical treatise in China.