San Zi Jing (三字經) · Volume 4
高祖興漢業建至孝平王莽篡
The Han founder Gaozu arose and the foundations of the Han dynasty were laid; in the time of Emperor Xiaoping, Wang Mang usurped the throne.
光武興為東漢四百年終於獻
Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, and this was the Eastern Han; the Han lasted four hundred years and ended with Emperor Xian.
魏蜀吳爭漢鼎號三國迄兩晉
Wei, Shu and Wu fought over the cauldrons of the Han house, and are together called the Three Kingdoms, which lasted until the two Jin dynasties.
宋齊繼梁陳承為南朝都金陵
The Song and Qi followed one after another, and the Liang and Chen succeeded them; these were the Southern Dynasties, with their capital at Jinling.
北元魏分東西宇文周與高齊
In the north the Yuan Wei split into the Eastern and Western Wei; and then came the Zhou of the Yuwen clan and the Qi of the Gao clan.
迨至隋一土宇不再傳失統緒
With the Sui dynasty the world was united again; but it did not last through many generations before it lost its rightful rule.
唐高祖起義師除隋亂創國基
The Tang founder Gaozu raised an army in righteousness, swept away the disorder of the late Sui and laid the foundation of the state.
二十傳三百載梁滅之國乃改
It passed through twenty reigns and lasted three hundred years; then the Later Liang destroyed the Tang, and the dynastic name was changed.
梁唐晉及漢周稱五代皆有由
The Liang, Tang, Jin, Han and Zhou are together called the Five Dynasties, each with its own reasons for rising and falling.
趙宋興受周禪十八傳南北混
The Song dynasty of the Zhao family arose, receiving the abdication of the Later Zhou; after eighteen reigns north and south were joined as one.
遼與金皆夷裔元滅金絕宋世
The Liao and the Jin were both descended from foreign peoples. The Yuan destroyed the Jin and also cut off the Song line,
蒞中國兼戎狄九十年反沙磧
ruled the Central Plains and held the lands of the nomadic peoples as well; after ninety years it withdrew again to the desert.
太祖興稱大明紀洪武都南京
The Ming founder arose and named the state the Great Ming; with the reign title Hongwu, he set his capital at Nanjing.
迨成祖遷宛平十六世至崇禎
In the time of Emperor Chengzu the capital moved to Wanping; it passed down sixteen reigns to the Chongzhen emperor.
權閹肆流寇起自成入神器毀
Eunuchs seized power and roving bandits arose on all sides; Li Zicheng broke into the capital, and the throne was thereby destroyed.
清太祖興遼東金之後受明封
The Qing founder arose in Liaodong, a descendant of the Jin people, and had once received investiture from the Ming court.
至世祖乃大同十二世清祚終
It was only in the time of Shizu that the realm was united; after twelve reigns, the fortunes of the Qing came to an end.
凡正史廿四部益以清成廿五
The standard histories number twenty-four, and with the history of the Qing added, they become twenty-five.
史雖繁讀有次史記一漢書二
Though the histories are many, there is an order in reading them: the Records of the Grand Historian first, the Book of Han second,
後漢三國志四此四史最精緻
the Book of the Later Han third, and the Records of the Three Kingdoms fourth; these four histories are the most carefully done.
先四史兼證經參通鑑約而精
Read the four histories first, and use them to check the classics; then consult the Comprehensive Mirror, which is concise and to the point.
歷代事全在茲載治亂知興衰
The affairs of every age are all here; they record order and disorder so that people may understand rise and decline.
讀史書考實錄通古今若親目
In reading history, one must examine the true records; grasp past and present as a whole, as though one had seen it with one's own eyes.
漢賈董及許鄭皆經師能述聖
In the Han, Jia Yi, Dong Zhongshu, Xu Shen and Zheng Xuan were all masters of the classics, able to transmit the learning of the sages.
宋周程張朱陸明王氏皆道學
In the Song, Zhou, the two Chengs, Zhang, Zhu and Lu, and in the Ming, Wang Shouren, all belong to the school of the Way.
屈原賦本風人逮鄒枚暨卿雲
Qu Yuan wrote rhapsodies, drawing on the poets of old; and then came Zou Yang, Mei Cheng, Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong,
韓與柳並文雄李若杜為詩宗
Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan were both great masters of prose; Li Bai and Du Fu were the foremost masters of poetry.
凡學者宜兼通翼聖教振民風
Those who study should master all of these; support the teaching of the sages and stir up the customs of the people.
口而誦心而維朝於斯夕於斯
Recite with the mouth and reflect with the mind; in the morning so, and in the evening so.
昔仲尼師項橐古聖賢尚勤學
Long ago Confucius took Xiang Tuo as his teacher; even the sages and worthies of old were this diligent in study.
趙中令讀魯論彼既仕學且勤
Zhao Pu, though Grand Secretary, still read the Lu text of the Analects; he was already an official and yet studied so diligently.
披蒲編削竹簡彼無書且知勉
Some wove rushes and cut bamboo slips to use as books; having no books, they still knew how to spur themselves on.
火焠掌錐刺股彼不教自勤苦
Some burned their palms with fire and some pricked their thighs with an awl; no one pressed them, yet they put themselves through hardship.
如囊螢如映雪家雖貧學不輟
Some put fireflies in a bag for light and some read by the glow of snow; though their families were poor, their study did not stop.
如負薪如掛角身雖勞猶苦卓
Some carried firewood on their backs as they read, and some hung books on the horns of an ox; though their bodies were weary, their resolve was outstanding.
蘇明允二十七始發憤讀書籍
Su Mingyun, until the age of twenty-seven, had not yet begun to study in earnest.
彼既老猶悔遲爾小生宜早思
Though already old, he still regretted having started so late; you who are young should make your plans early.
若荀卿年五十遊稷下習儒業
Take Xunzi, who at fifty still traveled to Jixia to study and pursued the learning of the Confucian school.
彼既成眾稱異爾小生宜立志
His success was such that everyone marveled; you who are young should set your aims firmly.
瑩八歲能詠詩泌七歲能賦棋
Zu Ying could compose poems at eight, and Li Mi at seven could write a rhapsody on the game of chess.
彼穎悟人稱奇爾幼學當效之
They were gifted far beyond others, and everyone marveled; you who are young and beginning your studies should follow their example.
蔡文姬能辨琴謝道韞能詠吟
Cai Wenji could tell a note on the zither by ear, and Xie Daoyun could chant verses and match couplets.
彼女子且聰敏爾男子當自警
Though they were women, they were this quick-witted; you who are men should rouse yourselves.
唐劉晏方七歲舉神童作正字
Liu Yan of the Tang dynasty was recommended as a child prodigy at only seven years old and made an official proofreader.
彼雖幼身己仕爾幼學勉而致
Young as he was, he had already entered office; you who study while still young can achieve the same if you strive.
犬守夜雞司晨苟不學曷為人
Dogs guard the night and roosters announce the dawn; if a person does not learn, on what grounds can he count as a person?
蠶吐絲蜂釀蜜人不學不如物
Silkworms can spin silk and bees can make honey; a person who does not learn is actually worse than these creatures.
幼習業壯致身上匡國下利民
Study your lessons while young, and devote yourself to the world in your prime; above, set the state right, and below, benefit the common people.
揚名聲顯父母光於前裕於後
Spread your good name and bring glory to your parents; add luster to your ancestors and leave shelter for your descendants.
人遺子金滿籯我教子惟一經
Others leave their children and grandchildren chests full of gold; all I teach mine is a single classic.
勤有功戲無益戒之哉宜勉力
Diligence brings results, while play brings no benefit. Take this as a warning and work hard!