Hundred Family Surnames

Author: Shi Yanbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: China has always attached great importance to early education for children. Through this education, the goal is to enlighten children's wisdom, cultivate their moral character, and promote their healthy growth. This form of education is known as "enlightenment." Ancient Chinese enlightenment textbooks have a long history and diverse forms, with "The Hundred Family Surnames" being one of the most representative examples. Chinese people have a strong sense of clan consciousness and place great value on their surnames. A surname is a banner and symbol of a clan. As early as the Han Dynasty, people began compiling surname-related enlightenment materials, and the "Hundred Family Surnames" during the Song Dynasty became widely known and household names, becoming a must-read for children's enlightenment. Although "The Hundred Family Surnames" is composed of isolated single characters with no meaningful connections between them, it adopts a four-line poetic form, making each line rhyme and the entire text harmonious and melodious in tone. When children read their own or others' surnames, they feel an immense sense of familiarity and endless joy. To make it easier for children to recognize and learn this traditional enlightenment masterpiece, we have selected 90 representative surnames from over 500, each accompanied by notes on the origin of the surname, stories of famous figures throughout history, and modern cartoon illustrations. This allows children to better understand the roots and glorious history of each surname. We believe that through the traditional cultural immersion and the knowledge-based, engaging reading experience, children will find great joy and continuously progress.