Quotes from the Three Character Classic

The Three Character Classic is one of the Chinese classic texts， probably written in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty and attributed to WangYinglin (王應麟，1223-1296). It’s theembodiment of Confucian thought suitable for teaching young children. With the short and simple text arranged in three-character verses， children learned many common characters， grammar structures， elements of Chinese history and the basis of Confucian morality. Here， CFT picks up a few quotes from the book to demonstrate its main philosophy.人之初，性本善。性相近，習相遠。rén zhī chū， xìng b?n shàn. xìng xiāng jìn， xí xiāng yu?n.Meaning: People at birth， are naturally good. Their natures are similar， but their habits make them different from each other.Comment: These are the first four verses of the book， and even nowadays， the introductory quotes are very familiar to most youth in China. Though the work is no longer taught at public schools， some parents and private schools still use this classic to teach their young children to pronounce Chinese characters.茍不教，性乃遷。教之道，貴以專。g?u bù jiào， xìng n?i qiān. jiào zhī dào， guì y? zhuān.Meaning: If not educated， their good nature will change. The right way to teach， is with absolute focus on achieving ambition.Comment: Why do we have to study? To maintain our good nature， always. Confucian recognizes the great importance of persistent education and cultivation to people. Confucius himself built up his name by education to his disciples till he died.養(yǎng)不教，父之過。教不嚴，師之惰。y?ng bù jiào， fù zhī guò. jiào bù yán， shī zhī duò.Meaning: To feed without teaching， is the father’s fault. To teach without severity， is the teacher’s laziness.Comment: Who will be blamed if we don’t study? Fathers and teachers. Bitter education is a tradition in China. Chinese believes that only in a strict environment that children can grow up on the ‘correct’ path.子不學，非所宜。幼不學，老何為？z? bù xué， fēi su? yí. yòu bù xué， l?o hé wéi.Meaning: If the child does not learn， this is not as it should be. If he does not learn while young， what will he be when old?Comment: How long should we study? Yes， study is a life-long task.玉不琢，不成器。人不學，不知義。yù bù zhuó， bù chéng qì. rén bù xué， bù zhī yì.Meaning: If jade is not polished， it cannot become a thing of use. If a man does not learn， he cannot know righteousness.Comment: What do we have to learn? Humanity， righteousness， ritual， loyalty， filial piety， everything about Confucian morality， and also Chinese history.幼而學，壯而行。上致君，下澤民。yòu ér xué， zhuàng ér xíng. shàng zhì jūn， xià zé mín.Meaning: Learn while young， and when grown up apply what you have learn; influencing the sovereign above， benefitting the people below.Comment: What if we study hard? Here comes the great encouragement to the children to learn hard: a big dream to realize when they grow up. Every little child is taught to have ambitious aim to work for their country and people one day.揚名聲，顯父母。光于前，裕于后。yáng míng shēng， xi?n fù m?. guāng yú qián， yù yú hòu.Meaning: Make a name for yourselves， and bring glory to your father and mother， shed splendour on your ancestors， and enrich your future generations.Comment: What’s more (Chinese family culture is stressed here again)， your hard working will be rewarded in the form of glory to the whole family: yourself， your parents， your ancestors， and your children and children’s children. So， even today， every Chinese student is taught; to study and work as hard they possibly can.