what is the three character classic

When a person is born, they carry an innate goodness. Human nature is fundamentally similar across people; however, as individuals grow and receive varied education and environmental influences, their personalities and behaviors diverge.

Without proper guidance, one’s natural disposition can lose direction. Education is the essential force that unifies and molds us. 

In the Warring States period, Mencius’ mother understood the importance of a favorable environment for her son’s development, moving their home three times to find the right surroundings. When Mencius later showed signs of wavering in his studies, his mother famously cut the cloth she was weaving to illustrate her point: just as cutting her work short rendered it useless, abandoning one’s efforts halfway wastes everything accomplished.

During the Five Dynasties, Dou Yujun, a wise father from Yanshan, was known for raising five exemplary children, whose reputations spread far and wide due to their notable achievements.

If parents neglect their role in guiding their children, they should reflect upon their shortcomings. Similarly, if teachers are too lenient in their responsibilities, they fail to fulfill their duties, impacting their students’ potential.

For children, not striving in their studies is unwise. Imagine the future of one who doesn’t dedicate themselves in youth—what will they accomplish in old age?

Just as a raw gemstone requires skillful carving and polishing to become a magnificent piece of art, a person lacking the cultivation of education and learning cannot grasp the essence of justice and morality.

From a young age, children should engage with teachers and peers, learning social etiquette and fostering positive relationships.

During the Eastern Han dynasty, a boy named Huang Xiang exemplified filial piety. At just nine years old, he would warm his father’s bed during winter with his own body heat. Filial devotion is a fundamental duty for every child.

Similarly, Kong Rong, at only four years old, offered the largest pear to his older brother, showing an early understanding of respect for siblings—a lesson that should be instilled from a young age.

Our primary lessons should involve respecting elders and harmonizing with siblings. Only then should we move on to academic knowledge. This foundational grounding extends to arithmetic, exploring the principles of numbers, and the study of literature and poetry.

In Chinese numeration, the base decimal system starts with one to ten, then scales up by factors of ten to one hundred, one thousand, and so on. This approach illustrates how numbers build upon each other in cumulative succession.

In basic cultural concepts, we learn the “Three Powers”—Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, the fundamental elements of the natural world. The “Three Lights” refer to the Sun, Moon, and Stars.

The “Three Bonds” are essential principles of social order: loyalty and duty between ruler and minister, familial love between parent and child, and mutual respect between husband and wife.

In observing nature, we experience the cyclical changes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—the unending rotation of the four seasons.

When we speak of directions, East, South, West, and North are collectively known as the “Four Cardinal Points.” These provide orientation in space, radiating from a central axis that allows for precise positioning and correspondence.

“Five Elements”—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—are part of ancient Chinese theory describing the basic forces of the universe. This system is based on a conceptual ordering from one to five, exploring their interconnections.

Lastly, the “Ten Heavenly Stems” (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui) and the “Twelve Earthly Branches” (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai) form a cycle for measuring time in traditional Chinese calendrical systems.

The ecliptic is the path Earth takes as it revolves around the Sun. At the same time, the sun orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy. On Earth, an imaginary line known as the equator crosses the planet’s middle, perpendicular to Earth’s axis, forming a circular band around its center.

The equatorial regions are extremely hot, with intense climates. Moving north or south from the equator, temperatures gradually decrease. China is located in the northeastern part of Earth.

Seasonal patterns that bring frost and dew, shifting with the rhythm of nature, balance China’s climate. In the east, China boasts high plateaus, while its western border meets the sea.

This vast and resource-rich land is home to four famous rivers: the Yangtze, Yellow River, Huai River, and Ji River. These rivers flow tirelessly, ultimately joining the ocean and forming the core of China’s water systems.

China’s five renowned mountains, collectively known as the “Five Great Mountains,” include Mount Tai in the east, Mount Hua in the west, Mount Song in the center, Mount Heng in the south, and Mount Hengshan in the north. Each mountain holds unique significance and stands as a symbol of China’s grand natural landmarks.

Nine administrative regions once divided ancient China. Modern reform has reorganized these regions into thirty-five provinces for improved governance and service to their people.

China’s massive population, the largest in the world, stands as a vital part of the global community. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants together form the four pillars of society, solidifying the foundation of the nation as essential contributors.

By adhering to five core moral principles—benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom, and integrity—society maintains harmony and stability. Each of us bears the responsibility to follow these principles with diligence, avoiding any deviation or neglect.

Beyond humanity, Earth is home to a diverse kingdom of plant life. Vegetation is abundant, thriving on vast lands and across the open waters, creating a sprawling plant kingdom.

Animals also populate the natural world, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals. Some soar through the air, others run on land, and some navigate skillfully in water.

Main crops include rice, wheat, soybeans, corn, and sorghum. These essential grains form the foundation of the human diet, providing sustenance worldwide.

Humans have tamed and raised domestic animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, chickens, dogs, and pigs for generations. Once considered wild creatures, these animals have gradually become integral to human life.

Joy brings happiness, frustration turns into anger, fear emerges from anxiety, affection turns into love, dislike turns into aversion, and intense longing turns into desire. These seven emotions, known as the “Seven Sentiments,” are natural responses in every person.

The five primary colors—green, red, yellow, black, and white—form the traditional Chinese color spectrum. These simple, vibrant colors are easily recognizable to the human eye.

In daily meals, our taste buds detect five primary flavors: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty.

Our sense of smell can distinguish many different aromas. Five are particularly notable: the rich fragrance of lamb, the sharp smell of burning, the floral scent of blossoms, the unique odor of fish, and the pungent stench of decay.

Ancient Chinese categorized musical instruments into eight types based on materials: gourd, clay, animal skin, wood, stone, metal, silk, and bamboo. These were known as the “Eight Sounds.”

We divided the speech tones into four categories: even, rising, departing, and entering. We carefully balanced these tones to ensure harmony and a pleasing sound, resulting in an enjoyable listening experience.

This familial lineage continues across generations, passing from great-grandfathers to fathers, then to myself, then to my son, and finally to my grandson.

We refer to the direct line from a person to their descendants, including great-great-grandchildren, as the “Nine Generations.” This structure represents a distinct, organized lineage, reflecting a clear and hierarchical family relationship and inheritance order.

Within families, parents should nurture strong bonds with their children, and spouses should live in harmony. Older siblings should be kind to younger ones, who in turn should show respect to their elders.

The ten core moral standards—parental love, filial piety from children, kindness from husbands, respect from wives, brotherly affection, sisterly humility, trustworthiness among friends, loyalty in partnerships, respect for rulers, and dutiful service from ministers—are essential ethical principles that everyone must uphold without exception.

Ancient China established the five levels of mourning attire—Zancui, Zicui, Dagong, Xiaogong, and Simu—according to kinship distance, providing a structured and solemn system for honoring the deceased.

Scholars in ancient China received training in six essential skills: religious, music, archery, chariot driving, writing, and mathematics. Today, mastering all of these skills is exceedingly rare.

Even today, calligraphy remains highly valued. Mastering written characters allows one to explore the depths of ancient texts like the Shuowen Jiezi, benefiting further knowledge.

The evolution of Chinese characters spans periods from Oracle Bone Script, Bronze Script, Large Seal Script, Small Seal Script, Clerical Script, to Cursive Script. Understanding these stages is crucial to appreciating the development of written language.

If one seeks to explore multiple fields deeply, it can be challenging to know where to begin. By gaining a broad overview of various fields, one can grasp fundamental principles across disciplines.

In teaching beginners, teachers should explain each word thoroughly, ensuring students understand the meaning of each sentence. Additionally, students should learn to correctly divide sentences and pause at appropriate points.

A scholar’s educational journey should ideally begin with a deep understanding of foundational knowledge before advancing to higher classics like the Four Books.

The Analects, composed of twenty chapters, meticulously record the words and actions of Confucius and his disciples, forming a compilation rich with wisdom.
Mencius, a concise yet profound text in seven volumes, explores the essence of ethical values, highlighting virtues such as benevolence and justice.
Kong Ji’s Doctrine of the Mean embodies the notion of balance, with “mean” signifying the avoidance of extremes and “constant” suggesting a steadfast adherence to core principles.
The Great Learning, thoughtfully compiled by Zengzi, presents a progressive philosophy on personal cultivation, family harmony, governance, and universal peace.

After mastering the essence of the Four Books and fully understanding the principles of The Classic of Filial Piety, one may embark on the higher study of the Six Classics.

The Book of Songs, The Book of Documents, The Book of Changes, The Book of Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals are hailed, along with The Book of Music, as the “Six Classics.” They form a revered canon encapsulating the core wisdom of Confucian thought. We should approach these works with dedication and reverence.

The ancient Three Divinations texts consist of the triad of Lien Shan, Gui Zang, and The Book of Changes. Through complex hexagrams, they reveal the philosophical understanding of the universe’s cycles and the nature of change.

The Book of Documents encompasses six pillars: 1) Canonical Records, establishing governance fundamentals; 2) Counsels, outlining developmental strategies; 3) Instructions, detailing official responsibilities; 4) Commands, sharing royal announcements; 5) Military Declarations, rallying forces; and 6) Directives, asserting royal authority.
The Zhou Rites, by the Duke of Zhou, describe the functions of six governmental departments, framing a model for state governance.
The Book of Rites, compiled by Dai De and Dai Sheng, preserves and interprets ancient ritual practices, offering insight into the grandeur of classical ceremonial traditions.

The Four Poems—The Airs of the States, The Greater Odes, The Lesser Odes, and The Hymns—contain rich content and profound emotions, meriting careful reading and recitation.

As the Zhou dynasty declined, the influence of the Book of Songs waned. To fill this cultural void, Confucius compiled the Spring and Autumn Annals, subtly commenting on political affairs and ethical judgments through its unique narrative style.

Three exceptional commentaries—Yang Gao’s Gongyang Commentary, Zuo Qiuming’s Zuo Commentary, and Gu Liangchi’s Guliang Commentary—offer in-depth analysis of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

The Er Ya not only sheds light on subtle literary nuances across time but also elucidates the deeper meanings behind words, granting appropriate names to things. Thus, before delving into other texts, we should study The Er Ya to ease our understanding of subsequent works.

Over generations, scholars expanded on these ancient texts through meticulous interpretation, culminating in thirteen distinct, resplendent classics.
Zuo Qiuming also authored The Commentary of Zuo and The Discourses of the States, which together form the Outer Commentary of the Spring and Autumn Annals. When these two works are added to the classic thirteen, the total increases to fifteen.

We should first grasp the essence of these core texts, then move on to philosophical works by authors like Xunzi, Yang Zhu, Wen Zhongzi, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. Their classic writings, known as “Philosophical Texts,” explore varied philosophical perspectives.

After studying the Confucian classics, we can delve into historical works, investigating the genealogies and political shifts across dynasties to derive lessons from their successes and failures.

The era of the Three Sovereigns—Fuxi, Shennong, and Huangdi—showcases leaders celebrated for their governance and devotion to their people. Following Huangdi, rulers Yao and Shun upheld humility and wise governance, laying the foundations for the legendary “Golden Era of Peace.”

Leaders of exceptional talent and virtue, known as the “Three Kings,” established the Xia dynasty, founded by Yu the Great, the Shang dynasty by Tang, and the Zhou dynasty by Wen and Wu Wang.

As Zhou influence waned, regional power struggles emerged, leading to the “Five Hegemons” of the Spring and Autumn period and the “Seven Warring States.” Eventually, the Qin state rose to prominence, conquering all to form a unified China.

Starting in childhood, we should commit to diligent learning and continual improvement of our personal qualities and abilities. Only through such dedication can we grow into adults who apply our knowledge effectively, contribute to our nation’s prosperity, and bring greater welfare to our community.

When you actively engage in society and make noteworthy contributions, you earn public respect and bring immense pride to your parents. In this way, you honor your ancestors and set a powerful example for future generations.

While some choose to leave substantial wealth for their descendants, I believe in a different legacy. I wish for my successors to focus intently on the pursuit of knowledge and to grow into individuals of remarkable accomplishments.

These principles underscore a critical message to all adults: only through constant diligence and ambition can we achieve the fruits of success. Conversely, if we indulge in idle pleasures and waste our time, we risk falling into a cycle of deep regret. Therefore, let us resolve to work hard, stay mindful of self-improvement, and remain vigilant in our efforts.