Xian Yan Xian Yu - (II)

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Humans always exist historically—drawing knowledge and experience from history, building their own life wisdom with it, and then teaching their children to face the challenges of their future lives. The tree of human wisdom grows richer and more lush across generations of minds. Our Chinese nation has a 5,000-year history of civilization, which means that the tree of our nation's life wisdom has been nurtured by countless minds over 5,000 years. How could it not be lush and magnificent! The term "virtuous" refers to someone with talent and good character, as well as being beautiful and kind. Thus, the name of this series, Xian Yan Xian Yu (Virtuous Words, Virtuous Sayings), implies that it gathers the finest fruits—the talented and virtuous sages and scholars from our nation's 5,000-year history of wisdom cultivation—and presents their good, instructive, or edifying words and phrases to children. In this way, those who read this series are as if they are facing the wise sages of history, listening to their stories that enlighten the mind and inspire people to do good and avoid evil.
As a father and a historian, I was deeply moved by the compilers' dedication when I translated these historical stories I had read in texts and even whispered to my own children at bedtime. They have been rewritten as such engaging fables, accompanied by thought-provoking insights and often humorous illustrations that bring a smile. I hope every child can draw life wisdom from these "virtuous words and sayings."