Six Classical Texts for Children -- Basic Collection of Chinese Family Libraries

Author: Cao Liguang, Yao Fang Annotation
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "Mengxue," also known as "Mengguan," refers to the schools for children's enlightenment education during China's feudal era. The curriculum primarily included literacy, calligraphy, and ethical morals, with commonly used textbooks such as Mengqiu (A Collection of Learning), Qianziwen (A Thousand Characters for Children), Baizixing (Hundred Family Surnames), Sandzijing (Three-Character Classic), Sishu (The Four Books), as well as Cangjie Pian (Cangjie's Chapter), Qianjia Shi (A Thousand Poems), Youxue Qionglin (Essentials for Young Scholars), Geshi Lianbi (Poetic Rhymes), Longwen Bianying (The Dragon's Whip Shadow), Dizifu (The Disciple's Oath), Nv'er Jing (The Way of the Daughter), and Zengguang Xianwen (The Enriched Classic of Proverbs), among others. These Mengxue reading materials have been tested over hundreds, even thousands, of years. Some have disappeared, while others have been passed down to this day and remain deeply cherished. Examined with today's perspective, these works contain feudal and backward elements, but most of their content is positive, encouraging people to do good and accumulate virtue, embodying the rich wisdom of ancestors, which is worth learning from and absorbing. To help modern readers better understand these Mengxue reading materials, we have selected six and provided annotations. They are: Sandzijing, Baizixing, Qianziwen, Zengguang Xianwen, Youxue Qionglin, and Geyan Lianbi, collectively titled The Six Mengxue Classics.