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三字经 The Three-Character Classic

A Confucian Roadmap for Kids

Paragraph 2: The Confucian Classics

	繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp	English	Commentary
1	凡训蒙须讲究详训诂名句读	When teaching the ignorant, there should be explanation and investigation. Carefully teach the old [texts], clearly identify sentence and paragraphs.	Old Chinese text (as recent as those written in the early 1900s) did not bother with any form of punctuation so properly parsing out the sentences and paragraphs was difficult.
2	为学者必有初小学终至四书	Those who would learn, must have a beginning. The basic schooling finished, they go on to the Four Books.
3	论语者二十篇群弟子记善言	There is The Analects, in twenty chapters. In this, the various disciples have recorded the wise sayings [of Confucius]	The Analects are a compilation of sayings and teachings of Confucius (551-479 BCE).
4	孟子者七篇止讲道德说仁义	The works of Mencius, in seven chapters. speak of the road to virtue, talk about benevolence and righteousness.	Mencius is a compilation of anecdotes by Mencius (371-289 BCE). He was a fourth-generation Confucian scholar and second only to Confucius in stature in the eyes of Confucianists.
5	作中庸乃孔伋中不偏庸不易	The Doctrine (Way) of the Mean, by the pen of Kong Ji; the mean does not slant to one side, the way does not change.	Kong Ji (also called Zi Si) was a grandson of Confucius. Discusses the importance of living according to the Dao.
6	作大学乃曾子自修齐至平治	He who wrote The Great Learning was the philosopher Zeng, [its teachings] ranging from developing as an individual to governing in peace.
7	孝经通四书熟如六经始可读	The "Classic of Filial Piety" mastered, and the "Four books" done, the "Six Classics", can be started.	Filial piety was the underpinning for Confucian society. Every person was expected to behave according to their position in the family and society. Failure to do so would result in chaos.
8	诗书易礼春秋号六经当讲求	The Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, the Rites of the Zhou, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals are the Six Classics which should be explained and analyzed.

9	有连山有归藏有周易三易详	There is the Lian Shan, there is the Gui Cang there is the Duke of Zhou, such are the three systems which elucidate the Book of Changes.	The Book of Changes (or I Ching) is an ancient classic of divination written in the 8-10th century BCE.
10	有典谟有训诰有誓命书之奥	There are standards, there are instructions, mandates, there are oaths, orders, such are the mysteries explained in the Book of Documents.	The Book of Documents (History) records events reaching back to the time of the Yellow Emperor through the Xia and Shang dynasties.
11	我周公作周礼著六官存治体	Our Duke of Zhou, wrote the Rites of the Zhou, in which he established the six classes of officials thus giving form to the government.	The six classes were: Heavenly Ministry (Prime Minister), Earthly Ministry (Public Affairs), Spring Ministry (Rites), Summer Ministry (Military), Autumn Ministry (Penal), Winter Ministry (Public Works).
12	大小戴注礼记述圣言礼乐备	The Elder and the Younger Dai, wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites. They published the sages' words, and set in order ceremonies and music.
13	曰国风曰雅颂号四诗当讽咏	We speak of the Airs of the States (Guo Feng), we speak of the Minor and Major Odes (Ya) and the Songs. These are the four sections of the Book of Poetry, which should be chanted over and over.	The Book of Poetry (Songs, Odes) contains approximately 300 songs and poems.
14	诗既亡春秋作寓褒贬别善恶	When the age of the Book of Poetry ended, the Spring and Autumn Annals were produced. These Annals contain praise and blame, and distinguish the good from the bad.	The Annals recorded events in the state of Lu, one of several that comprised China as the Zhou dynasty disintegrated.
15	三传者有公羊有左氏有彀梁	The Three Commentaries: there is that of Gong Yang, there is that of Zuo there is that of Gou Liang.	Commentaries on the Annals.
16	经既明方读子撮其要记其事	When the classics are clear, read the philosophers. Pick out the essentials, and remember their facts.
17	五子者有荀杨文中子及老庄	The five philosophers: there is Xun, Yang, Wen Zhongzi Lao Zi (Lao Tzu), and Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu).	Lao Tzu (5th century BCE) wrote the Dao De Jing. Chuang Tzu (4th century BCE) wrote the Chuang Tzu.

繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp

English

Commentary

凡训蒙
须讲究
详训诂
名句读

When teaching the ignorant,
there should be explanation and investigation.
Carefully teach the old [texts],
clearly identify sentence and paragraphs.

Old Chinese text (as recent as those written in the early 1900s) did not bother with any form of punctuation so properly parsing out the sentences and paragraphs was difficult.

为学者
必有初
小学终
至四书

Those who would learn,
must have a beginning.
The basic schooling finished,
they go on to the Four Books.

论语者
二十篇
群弟子
记善言

There is The Analects,
in twenty chapters.
In this, the various disciples
have recorded the wise sayings [of Confucius]

The Analects are a compilation of sayings and teachings of Confucius (551-479 BCE).

孟子者
七篇止
讲道德
说仁义

The works of Mencius,
in seven chapters.
speak of the road to virtue,
talk about benevolence and righteousness.

Mencius is a compilation of anecdotes by Mencius (371-289 BCE). He was a fourth-generation Confucian scholar and second only to Confucius in stature in the eyes of Confucianists.

作中庸
乃孔伋
中不偏
庸不易

The Doctrine (Way) of the Mean,
by the pen of Kong Ji;
the mean does not slant to one side,
the way does not change.

Kong Ji (also called Zi Si) was a grandson of Confucius. Discusses the importance of living according to the Dao.

作大学
乃曾子
自修齐
至平治

He who wrote The Great Learning
was the philosopher Zeng, [its teachings]
ranging from developing as an individual
to governing in peace.

孝经通
四书熟
如六经
始可读

The "Classic of Filial Piety" mastered,
and the "Four books" done,
the "Six Classics",
can be started.

Filial piety was the underpinning for Confucian society. Every person was expected to behave according to their position in the family and society. Failure to do so would result in chaos.

诗书易
礼春秋
号六经
当讲求

The Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents,
the Book of Changes, the Rites of the Zhou,
the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals
are the Six Classics
which should be explained and analyzed.

有连山
有归藏
有周易
三易详

There is the Lian Shan,
there is the Gui Cang
there is the Duke of Zhou,
such are the three systems which elucidate the Book of Changes.

The Book of Changes (or I Ching) is an ancient classic of divination written in the 8-10th century BCE.

有典谟
有训诰
有誓命
书之奥

There are standards,
there are instructions, mandates,
there are oaths, orders,
such are the mysteries explained in the Book of Documents.

The Book of Documents (History) records events reaching back to the time of the Yellow Emperor through the Xia and Shang dynasties.

我周公
作周礼
著六官
存治体

Our Duke of Zhou,
wrote the Rites of the Zhou,
in which he established the six classes of officials
thus giving form to the government.

The six classes were: Heavenly Ministry (Prime Minister), Earthly Ministry (Public Affairs), Spring Ministry (Rites), Summer Ministry (Military), Autumn Ministry (Penal), Winter Ministry (Public Works).

大小戴
注礼记
述圣言
礼乐备

The Elder and the Younger Dai,
wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites.
They published the sages' words,
and set in order ceremonies and music.

曰国风
曰雅颂
号四诗
当讽咏

We speak of the Airs of the States (Guo Feng),
we speak of the Minor and Major Odes (Ya) and the Songs.
These are the four sections of the Book of Poetry,
which should be chanted over and over.

The Book of Poetry (Songs, Odes) contains approximately 300 songs and poems.

诗既亡
春秋作
寓褒贬
别善恶

When the age of the Book of Poetry ended,
the Spring and Autumn Annals were produced.
These Annals contain praise and blame,
and distinguish the good from the bad.

The Annals recorded events in the state of Lu, one of several that comprised China as the Zhou dynasty disintegrated.

三传者
有公羊
有左氏
有彀梁

The Three Commentaries:
there is that of Gong Yang,
there is that of Zuo
there is that of Gou Liang.

Commentaries on the Annals.

经既明
方读子
撮其要
记其事

When the classics are clear,
read the philosophers.
Pick out the essentials,
and remember their facts.

五子者
有荀杨
文中子
及老庄

The five philosophers:
there is Xun, Yang,
Wen Zhongzi
Lao Zi (Lao Tzu), and Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu).

Lao Tzu (5th century BCE) wrote the Dao De Jing. Chuang Tzu (4th century BCE) wrote the Chuang Tzu.