San Zi Jing (三字經) · Volume 2

宇文周與高齊迨至隋一土宇

and then came the Zhou of the Yuwen clan and the Qi of the Gao clan. With the Sui dynasty the world was united again,

不再傳失統緒唐高祖起義師

but it did not last through many generations before it lost its rightful rule. The Tang founder Gaozu raised an army in righteousness,

除隋亂創國基二十傳三百載

swept away the disorder of the late Sui and laid the foundation of the state. It passed through twenty reigns and lasted three hundred years;

梁滅之國乃改梁唐晉及漢周

then the Later Liang destroyed the Tang, and the dynastic name was changed. The Liang, Tang, Jin, Han and Zhou

稱五代皆有由炎宋興受周禪

are together called the Five Dynasties, each with its own causes. The Song dynasty arose, receiving the abdication of the Later Zhou,

十八傳南北混遼與金皆稱帝

and after eighteen reigns north and south were joined as one. The Liao and the Jin each called their rulers emperors,

元滅金絕宋世蒞中國兼戎狄

the Yuan destroyed the Jin and also cut off the Song line; they ruled the Central Plains and held the lands of the nomadic peoples as well.

九十年國祚廢太祖興國大明

After ninety years its fortunes came to an end. The Ming founder arose and named the state the Great Ming,

號洪武都金陵迨成祖遷燕京

with the reign title Hongwu, and set his capital at Jinling. In the time of Emperor Chengzu the capital moved to Yanjing;

十七世至崇禎權閹肆寇如林

it passed down seventeen reigns to Chongzhen. Eunuchs seized power and acted without restraint, and bandits were as many as trees in a forest;

至李闖神器焚清太祖膺景命

by the time of Li Zicheng the symbols of the throne were burned. The Qing founder received the great mandate,

靖四方克大定廿一史全在茲

pacified the four quarters, and the general situation was settled. The twenty-one histories are all here,

載治亂知興衰讀史書考實錄

recording order and disorder so that people may understand rise and decline. In reading history, one must examine the true records,

通古今若親目口而誦心而維

and grasp past and present as a whole, as though one had seen it with one's own eyes. Recite with the mouth and reflect with the mind,

朝於斯夕於斯昔仲尼師項橐

in the morning so, and in the evening so. Long ago Confucius took Xiang Tuo as his teacher,

古聖賢尚勤學趙中令讀魯論

and even the sages and worthies of old were diligent in study. Zhao Pu, though Grand Secretary, still read the Lu text of the Analects;

彼既仕學且勤披蒲編削竹簡

he was already an official and yet studied so diligently. Some wove rushes and cut bamboo slips to use as books;

彼無書且知勉頭懸梁錐刺股

having no books, they still knew how to spur themselves on. Some hung their hair from a beam and some pricked their thighs with an awl;

彼不教自勤苦如囊螢如映雪

no one pressed them, yet they put themselves through hardship. Some put fireflies in a bag for light and some read by the glow of snow;

家雖貧學不輟如負薪如掛角

though their families were poor, their study did not stop. Some carried firewood on their backs as they read, and some hung books on the horns of an ox;

身雖勞猶苦卓蘇老泉二十七

though their bodies were weary, their resolve was outstanding. Su Xun, until the age of twenty-seven,

始發憤讀書籍彼既老猶悔遲

had not yet begun to study in earnest. Though already of age, he still regretted having started so late;

爾小生宜早思若梁灝八十二

you who are young should make your plans early. Take Liang Hao, who at eighty-two

對大廷魁多士彼既成眾稱異

answered the policy questions at court and outdid a crowd of scholars. His success came late, and everyone marveled;

爾小生宜立志瑩八歲能詠詩

you who are young should set your aims firmly. Zu Ying could compose poems at eight,

泌七歲能賦棋彼穎悟人稱奇

and Li Mi at seven could write a rhapsody on the game of chess. They were gifted far beyond others, and everyone marveled;

爾幼學當效之蔡文姬能辨琴

you who are young and beginning your studies should follow their example. Cai Wenji could tell a note on the zither by ear,

謝道韞能詠吟彼女子且聰敏

and Xie Daoyun could chant verses and match couplets. Though they were women, they were this quick-witted;

爾男子當自警唐劉晏方七歲

you who are men should rouse yourselves. In the Tang dynasty Liu Yan, at only seven,

舉神童作正字彼雖幼身己仕

was recommended as a child prodigy and made a proofreading official. Though young, he already held office;

爾幼學勉而致有為者亦若是

you who are young and beginning your studies can do it with effort. Those who accomplish something are exactly like this.

犬守夜雞司晨苟不學曷為人

The dog guards the night and the rooster announces the dawn; if a person does not learn, how can he be called a person?

蠶吐絲蜂釀蜜人不學不如物

The silkworm spins silk and the bee makes honey; a person who does not learn is worse than these creatures.

幼而學壯而行上致君下澤民

Learn when young and put it into practice in one's prime; above, one can assist the ruler, and below, bring benefit to the people.

揚名聲顯父母光於前裕於後

Spread one's good name and bring honor to one's parents; add glory to one's ancestors and leave blessings for one's descendants.

人遺子金滿籯我教子惟一經

Others leave their children chests full of gold; what I teach my children is only a single classic.

勤有功戲無益戒之哉宜勉力

Diligence brings results and play brings no benefit. Take this as a warning and work hard!

人之初性本善性相近習相遠

When people are first born, their nature is good; their natures are close to one another, but habits carry them far apart.

苟不教性乃遷教之道貴以專

If they are not taught, their nature will turn bad; the way of teaching lies in being single-minded and devoted.

昔孟母擇鄰處子不學斷機杼

Long ago Mencius's mother chose her neighbors with care; when her son would not study, she cut the threads on her loom.

荀季和有義方教八子名俱揚

Xun Jihe had a good method for teaching his sons, and he raised eight sons, every one of them famous far and wide.

養不教父之過教不嚴師之惰

To feed a child without teaching him is the father's fault; to teach without strictness is the teacher's laziness.

子不學非所宜幼不學老何為

For a child to refuse to learn is not right; if he does not study when young, what can he accomplish when old?

玉不琢不成器人不學不知義

Jade that is not carved and polished cannot become a vessel; a person who does not study will not understand righteousness.

為人子方少時親師友習禮儀

When children are young, they should stay close to teachers and friends and learn the rules of courtesy and proper conduct.

香九齡能溫席孝於親所當執

Huang Xiang at nine could warm his father's bedding; serving one's parents with filial devotion is a duty one must keep.

融四歲能讓梨弟於長宜先知

Kong Rong at four knew to give up the larger pears; respecting one's elder brother is something to understand early.

首孝弟次見聞知某數識某文

First speak of filial piety and brotherly respect, then of what one sees and hears; learn to count and learn to recognize written characters.

一而十十而百百而千千而萬

From one to ten, from ten to a hundred, from a hundred to a thousand, from a thousand to ten thousand.

三才者天地人三光者日月星

The Three Powers are heaven, earth and humankind; the Three Lights are the sun, the moon and the stars.

三綱者君臣義父子親夫婦順

The Three Bonds are these: between ruler and minister, righteousness; between father and son, affection; between husband and wife, harmony.

曰春夏曰秋冬此四時運不窮

Spring and summer, autumn and winter, these are the four seasons, turning without rest.

曰南北曰西東此四方應乎中

South and north, west and east, these are the four directions, all corresponding to the center.

曰水火木金土此五行本乎數

Water, fire, wood, metal and earth, these are the Five Phases, rooted in the numbers of nature.

十干者甲至癸十二支子至亥

The ten Heavenly Stems run from jia to gui; the twelve Earthly Branches run from zi to hai.

曰黃道日所躔曰赤道當中權

The ecliptic is the path along which the sun travels; the equator lies right at the middle of the earth.

赤道下溫暖極我中華在東北

Beneath the equator it is warmest; our Middle Kingdom lies to the northeast of it.

寒燠均霜露改右高原左大海

Cold and warmth are evenly balanced, and frost and dew change with the seasons; on the right are high plateaus, and on the left, the sea.

曰江河曰淮濟此四瀆水之紀

The Yangtze, the Yellow River, the Huai and the Ji, these four great rivers are the mainstays of all waters.