San Zi Jing

The San Zi Jing (三字经) is also known as the Three Character Classic. It has been used to teach children Confucian values until recent times. In the table below, the column "1st Part" refers to the first half of a sentence (consisting of three characters) and the column "2nd Part" refers to the second half of a sentence.

No.	1st Part	2nd Part	Pinyin 1st Part	Pinyin 2nd Part	Translation by Herbert A. Giles in 1910
001	人之初，	性本善。	rén zhī chū	xìng běn shàn	Men at their birth are naturally good.
002	性相近，	习相远。	xìng xiāng jìn	xí xiāng yuǎn	Their natures are much the same; their habits become widely different.
003	苟不教，	性乃迁。	gǒu bù jiāo	xìng nǎi qiān	If foolishly there is no teaching, the nature will deteriorate.
004	教之道，	贵以专。	jiāo zhī dào	guì yǐ zhuān	The right way in teaching, is to attach the utmost importance to thoroughness.
005	昔孟母，	择邻处。	xī mèng mǔ	zé lín chǔ	Of old, the mother of Mencius chose a neighbourhood;
006	子不学，	断机杼。	zǐ bù xué	duàn jī zhù	and when her child would not learn, she broke the shuttle from the loom.
007	窦燕山，	有义方。	dòu Yānshān	yǒu yì fāng	Tou of the Swallow Hills had the right method.
008	教五子，	名俱扬。	jiāo wǔ zǐ	míng jù yáng	He taught five sons, each of whom raised the family reputation.
009	养不教，	父之过。	yǎng bù jiào	fù zhī guò	To feed without teaching is the father's fault.
010	教不严，	师之惰。	jiāo bù yán	shī zhī duò	To teach without severity is the teacher's laziness.
011	子不学，	非所宜。	zǐ bù xué	fēi suǒ yí	If the child does not learn, this is not as it should be.
012	幼不学，	老何为。	yòu bù xué	lǎo hé wéi	If he does not learn while young, what will he be when old?
013	玉不琢，	不成器。	yù bù zhuó	bù chéng qì	If jade is not polished, it cannot become a thing of use.
014	人不学，	不知义。	rén bù xué	bùzhī yì	If a man does not learn, he cannot know his duty towards his neighbour.
015	为人子，	方少时。	wéirén zǐ	fāng shào shí	He who is the son of a man, when he is young
016	亲师友，	习礼仪。	qīn shī yǒu	xí lǐyí	should attach himself to his teachers and friends, and practise ceremonial usages.
017	香九龄，	能温席。	xiāng jiǔ líng	néng wēn xí	Hsiang, at nine years of age, could warm (his parents') bed.
018	孝于亲，	所当执。	xiào yú qīn	suǒ dāng zhí	Filial piety towards parents, is that to which we should hold fast.
019	融四岁，	能让梨。	róng sì suì	néng ràng lí	Jung, at four years of age, could yield the (bigger) pears.
020	弟于长，	宜先知。	tì yú zhǎng	yí xiānzhī	To behave as a younger brother towards elders, is one of the first things to know.
021	首孝弟，	次见闻。	shǒu xiào tì	cì jiànwén	Begin with filial piety and fraternal love, and then see and hear .
022	知某数，	识某文。	zhī mǒu shù	shí mǒu wén	Learn to count, and learn to read.
023	一而十，	十而百。	yī ér shí	shí ér bǎi	Units and tens, then tens and hundreds,
024	百而千，	千而万。	bǎi ér qiān	qiān ér wàn	hundreds and thousands, thousands and tens of thousands.
025	三才者，	天地人。	sān cái zhě	tiāndì rén	The Three Forces are Heaven, Earth, and Man.
026	三光者，	日月星。	sān guāng zhě	rì yuè xīng	The Three Luminaries are the sun, the moon and the stars.
027	三纲者，	君臣义。	sān gāng zhě	jūn chén yì	The Three Bonds are (1) the obligation between sovereign and subject,
028	父子亲，	夫妇顺。	fù zǐ qīn	fūfù shùn	(2) the love between father and child, (3) the harmony between husband and wife.
029	曰春夏，	曰秋冬。	yuē chūn xià	yuē qiū dōng	We speak of spring and summer, we speak of autumn and winter.
030	此四时，	运不穷。	cǐ sì shí	yùn bù qióng	These four seasons revolve without ceasing.
031	曰南北，	曰西东。	yuē nánběi	yuē xī dōng	We speak of north and south, we speak of east and west.
032	此四方，	应乎中。	cǐ sìfāng	yīng hū zhòng	These four points respond to the requirements of the centre.
033	曰水火，	木金土。	yuē shuǐhuǒ	mù jīn tǔ	We speak of water, fire, wood, metal and earth.
034	此五行，	本乎数。	cǐ wǔ xíng	běn hū shù	These five elements have their origin in number.
035	曰仁义，	礼智信。	yuē rén yì	lǐ zhì xìn	We speak of charity of heart and of duty towards one's neighbour, of propriety, of wisdom, and of truth.
036	此五常，	不容紊。	cǐ wǔ cháng	bù róng wěn	These five virtues admit of no compromise.
037	稻粱菽，	麦黍稷。	dào liáng shū	mài shǔ jì	Rice, spiked millet, pulse, wheat, glutinous millet and common millet.
038	此六谷，	人所食。	cǐ liù gǔ	rén suǒ shí	These six grains are those which men eat.
039	马牛羊，	鸡犬豕。	mǎ niú yáng	jī quǎn shǐ	The horse, the ox, the sheep, the fowl, the dog, the pig.
040	此六畜，	人所饲。	cǐ liù chù	rén suǒ sì	These six animals are those which men keep.
041	曰喜怒，	曰哀惧。	yuē xǐ nù	yuē āi jù	We speak of joy, of anger, we speak of pity, of fear,
042	爱恶欲，	七情具。	ài è yù	qī qíng jù	of love, of hate, and of desire. These are the seven passions.
043	匏土革，	木石金。	páo tǔ gé	mù shí jīn	The gourd, earthenware, skin, wood, stone, metal,
044	与丝竹，	乃八音。	yǔ sī zhú	nǎi bā yīn	silk, and bamboo, yield the eight musical sounds.
045	高曾祖，	父而身。	gāo zēngzǔ	fù ér shēn	Great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather, father and self,
046	身而子，	子而孙。	shēn ér zǐ	zǐ ér sūn	self and son, son and grandson,
047	自子孙，	至元曾。	zì zǐsūn	zhì yuán zēng	from son and grandson, on to great grandson and great great grandson.
048	乃九族，	人之伦。	nǎi jiǔ zú	rén zhī lún	These are the nine agnates, constituting the kinships of man.
049	父子恩，	夫妇从。	fù zǐ ēn	fūfù cóng	Affection between father and child, harmony between husband and wife,
050	兄则友，	弟则恭。	xiōng zé yǒu	dì zé gōng	friendliness on the part of elder brothers, respectfulness on the part of younger brothers,
051	长幼序，	友与朋。	zhǎng yòu xù	yǒu yǔ péng	precedence between elders and youngers, as between friend and friend,
052	君则敬，	臣则忠。	jūn zé jìng	chén zé zhōng	respect on the part of the sovereign, loyalty on the part of the subject.
053	此十义，	人所同。	cǐ shí yì	rén suǒ tóng	These ten obligations are common to all men.
054	凡训蒙，	须讲究。	fán xùn méng	xū jiǎngjiū	In the education of the young, there should be explanation and elucidation,
055	详训诂，	名句读。	xiáng xùn gǔ	míng jù doù	careful teaching of the interpretations of commentators, and due attention to paragraphs and sentences.
056	为学者，	必有初。	wèi xuézhě	bì yǒu chū	Those who are learners must have a beginning.
057	小学终，	至四书。	xiǎoxué zhōng	zhì sì shū	The "Little Learning" finished, they proceed to the "Four Books".
058	论语者，	二十篇。	lùn yǔ zhě	èrshí piān	There is the Lun Yü, in twenty sections.
059	群弟子，	记善言。	qún dìzǐ	jì shàn yán	In this, the various disciples have recorded the wise sayings of Confucius.
060	孟子者，	七篇止。	mèng zǐ zhě	qī piān zhǐ	The works of Mencius are comprised in seven sections.
061	讲道德，	说仁义。	jiǎng dàodé	shuō rén yì	These explain the WAY and the exemplification thereof, and expound charity and duty towards one's neighbour.
062	作中庸，	子思笔。	zuò zhōngyōng	zǐ sī bǐ	The "Chung Yung" was written by the pen of Tzu-ssu;
063	中不偏，	庸不易。	zhòng bù piān	yōng bù yì	"Chung" (the middle) being that which does not lean towards any side, "Yung" (the course) being that which cannot be changed.
064	作大学，	乃曾子。	zuò dàxué	nǎi zēngzǐ	He who wrote "The Great Learning" was the philosopher Tsêng.
065	自修齐，	至平治。	zìxiū qí	zhì píng zhì	Beginning with cultivation of the individual and ordering of the family, it goes on to government of one's own State and tranquillisation of the Empire.
066	孝经通，	四书熟。	xiào jīng tōng	sì shū shú	When the "Classic of Filial Piety" is mastered, and the "Four Books" are known by heart.
067	如六经，	始可读。	rú liù jīng	shǐ kě dú	The next step is to the "Six Classics", which may now be studied.
068	诗书易，	礼春秋。	shī shū yì	lǐ chūnqiū	The "Books of Poetry", of "History" and of "Changes", the "Rites of the Chou Dynasty", the "Book of Rites", and the "Spring and Autumn Annals",
069	号六经，	当讲求。	hào liù jīng	dàng jiǎng qiú	are called the Six Classics, which should be carefully explained and analysed.
070	有连山，	有归藏。	yǒu lián shān	yǒu guī cáng	There is the "Lien shan" system, there is the "Kuei tsang",
071	有周易，	三易详。	yǒu zhōu yì	sān yì xiáng	and there is the system of Changes of the Chou Dynasty; such are the three systems which elucidate the Changes.
072	有典谟，	有训诰。	yǒu diǎn mó	yǒu xùn gào	There are the Regulations, the Counsels, the Instructions, the Announcements,
073	有誓命，	书之奥。	yǒu shì mìng	shū zhī ào	the Oaths, the Charges; these are the profundities of the Book of History.
074	我周公，	作周礼。	wǒ zhōu gōng	zuò zhōu lǐ	Our Duke of Chou drew up the Ritual of the Chou Dynasty,
075	著六官，	存治体。	zhù liù guān	cún zhì tǐ	in which he set forth the duties of the six classes of officials, and thus gave a settled form to the government.
076	大小戴，	注礼记。	dàxiǎo dài	zhù lǐ jì	The Elder and the Younger Tai wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites.
077	述圣言，	礼乐备。	shù shèng yán	lǐ yuè bèi	They published the holy words, and Ceremonies and Music were set in order.
078	曰国风，	曰雅颂。	yuē guó fēng	yuē yǎ sòng	We speak of the "Kuo feng", we speak of the "Ya" and of the "Sung".
079	号四诗，	当讽咏。	hào sì shī	dàng fěng yǒng	These are the four sections of the Book of Poetry, which should be hummed over and over.
080	诗既亡，	春秋作。	shī jì wáng	chūnqiū zuō	When odes ceased to be made, the "Spring and Autumn Annals" were produced.
081	寓褒贬，	别善恶。	yù bāobiǎn	bié shàn è	These "Annals" contain praise and blame, and distinguish the good from the bad.
082	三传者，	有公羊。	sān zhuàn zhě	yǒu gōng yáng	The three commentaries upon the above, include that of Kung-Yang,
083	有左氏，	有彀梁。	yǒu zuǒ shì	yǒu gòu liáng	that of Tso, and that of Ku-Liang.
084	经既明，	方读子。	jīng jì míng	fāng dú zǐ	When the classics are understood, then the writings of the various philosophers should be read.
085	撮其要，	记其事。	cuō qí yào	jì qí shì	Pick out the important points in each, and take a note of all facts.
086	五子者，	有荀杨。	wǔ zǐ zhě	yǒu Xún yáng	The five chief philosophers are Hsün, Yang,
087	文中子，	及老庄。	wén zhōngzǐ	jí lǎo zhuāng	Wên Chung Tzu, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
088	经子通，	读诸史。	jīng zǐ tōng	dú zhū shǐ	When the Classics and the Philosophers are mastered, the various histories should then be read,
089	考世系，	知终始。	kǎo shìxì	zhī zhōng shǐ	and the genealogical connections should be examined, so that the end of one dynasty and the beginning of the next may be known.
090	自羲农，	至黄帝。	zì xī nóng	zhì huáng dì	From Fu Hsi and Shên Nung on to the Yellow Emperor, --
091	号三皇，	居上世。	hào sān huáng	jū shàng shì	these are called the Three Rulers, who lived in the early ages.
092	唐有虞，	号二帝。	táng yǒu yú	hào èr dì	T'ang and Yu-Yü are called the Two Emperors.
093	相揖逊，	称盛世。	xiāng yī xùn	chēng shèng shì	They abdicated, one after the other, and theirs was called the Golden Age.
094	夏有禹，	商有汤。	xià yǒu Yǔ	shāng yǒu tāng	The Hsia dynasty had Yü; and the Shang dynasty had T'ang;
095	周文武，	称三王。	zhōu wén wǔ	chēng sān wáng	the Chou dynasty had Wên and Wu;-- these are called the Three Kings.
096	夏传子，	家天下。	xià chuán zǐ	jiā tiānxià	Under the Hsia dynasty the throne was transmitted from father to son, making a family possession of the empire.
097	四百载，	迁夏社。	sì bǎi zǎi	qiān xià shè	After four hundred years, the Imperial sacrifice passed from the House of Hsia.
098	汤伐夏，	国号商。	tāng fá xià	guó hào shāng	T'ang the completer destroyed the Hsia Dynasty and the dynastic title became Shang.
099	六百载，	至纣亡。	liù bǎi zǎi	zhì zhòu wáng	The line lasted for six hundred years, ending with Chou Hsin.
100	周武王，	始诛纣。	zhōu wǔ wáng	shǐ zhū zhòu	King Wu of the Chou Dynasty finally slew Chou Hsin.
101	八百载，	最长久。	bā bǎi zǎi	zuì chángjiǔ	His own line lasted for eight hundred years; -- the longest dynasty of all.
102	周辙东，	王纲坠。	zhōu chè dōng	wáng gāng zhuì	When the Chous made tracks eastwards, the feudal bond was slackened;
103	逞干戈，	尚游说。	chěng gāngē	shàng yóu shuì	the arbitrament of spear and shields prevailed; and peripatetic politicians were held in high esteem.
104	始春秋，	终战国。	shǐ chūnqiū	zhōng zhànguó	This period began with the Spring and Autumn Epoch, and ended with that of the Warring States.
105	五霸强，	七雄出。	wǔ bà qiáng	qī xióng chū	Next, the Five Chieftains domineered, and the Seven Martial States came to the front.
106	嬴秦氏，	始兼并。	yíng qín shì	shǐ jiānbìng	Then the House of Ch'in, descended from the Ying clan, finally united all the States under one sway.
107	传二世，	楚汉争。	chuán èr shì	chǔ hàn zhēng	The throne was transmitted to Erh Shih, upon which followed the struggle between the Ch'u and the Han States.
108	高祖兴，	汉业建。	gāo zǔ xīng	hàn yè jiàn	Then Kao Tsu arose, and the House of Han was established.
109	至孝平，	王莽篡。	zhì xiào píng	wáng mǎng cuàn	When we come to the reign of Hsiao P'ing, Wang Mang usurped the throne.
110	光武兴，	为东汉。	guāng wǔ xīng	wéi dōnghàn	Then Kuang Wu arose, and founded the Eastern Han Dynasty.
111	四百年，	终于献。	sì bǎinián	zhōngyú xiàn	It lasted four hundred years, and ended with the Emperor Hsien.
112	魏蜀吴，	争汉鼎。	wèi shǔ wú	zhēng hàn dǐng	Wei, Shu, and Wu, fought for the sovereignty of the Hans.
113	号三国，	迄两晋。	hào sān guó	qì liǎng jìn	They were called the Three Kingdoms, and existed until the Two Chin Dynasties.
114	宋齐继，	梁陈承。	sòng qí jì	liáng chén chéng	Then followed the Sung and the Ch'i dynasties, and after them the Liang and Ch'ên dynasties
115	为南朝，	都金陵。	wéi nán cháo	dū jīn líng	These are the southern dynasties, with their capital at Nanking.
116	北元魏，	分东西。	běi yuán wèi	fēn dōngxi	The northern dynasties are the Wei dynasty of the Yüan family, which split into Eastern and Western Wei,
117	宇文周，	兴高齐。	yǔ wén zhōu	xīng gāo qí	the Chou dynasty of the Yü-wen family, with the Ch'i dynasty of the Kao family.
118	迨至隋，	一土宇。	dài zhì suí	yī tǔ yǔ	At length, under the Sui dynasty, the empire was united under one ruler.
119	不再传，	失统绪。	búzài chuán	shī tǒng xù	The throne was not transmitted twice, succession to power being lost.
120	唐高祖，	起义师。	táng gāo zǔ	qǐyì shī	The first Emperor of the T'ang dynasty raised volunteer troops.
121	除隋乱，	创国基。	chú suí luàn	chuāng guó jī	He put an end to the disorder of the House of Sui, and established the foundations of his line.
122	二十传，	三百载。	èrshí chuán	sān bǎi zǎi	Twenty times the throne was transmitted in a period of three hundred years.
123	梁灭之，	国乃改。	liáng miè zhī	guó nǎi gǎi	The Liang State destroyed it, and the dynastic title was changed.
124	梁唐晋，	及汉周。	liáng táng jìn	jí hàn zhōu	The Liang, the T'ang, the Chin, the Han, and the Chou,
125	称五代，	皆有由。	chēng wǔ dài	jiē yǒu yóu	are called the Five Dynasties, and there was a reason for the establishment of each.
126	炎宋兴，	受周禅。	yán sòng xīng	shòu zhōu shàn	Then the fire-led House of Sung arose, and received the resignation of the house of Chou.
127	十八传，	南北混。	shí bā chuán	nánběi hùn	Eighteen times the throne was transmitted, and then the north and the south were reunited.
128	辽于金，	皆称帝。	liáo yú jīn	jiē chēng dì	The Liao Tartars and the Chin Tartars all took the Imperial title.
129	元灭金，	绝宋世。	yuán miè jīn	jué sòng shì	The Yüans (Mongols) destroyed the Chin Tartars, and put an end to the House of Sung.
130	莅中国，	兼戎翟。	lì Zhōngguó	jiān róng dí	They governed the Middle Kingdom, and also the wild tribes of the north and west;
131	九十年，	国祚废。	jiǔshí nián	guó zuò fèi	after ninety years their mandate was exhausted.
132	太祖兴，	国大明。	tài zǔ xīng	guó dà míng	Then T'ai Tsu arose, his dynasty being known as Ta Ming.
133	号洪武，	都金陵。	hào hóng wǔ	dū jīn líng	He took as his year-title Hung Wu, and fixed his capital at Chin-ling (Nanking).
134	逮成祖，	迁燕京。	dài chéng zǔ	qiān Yānjīng	At length, under the Emperor Ch'êng Tsu, a move was made to Swallow City (Peking).
135	十七世，	至崇祯。	shí qī shì	zhì chóng zhēn	There were seventeen reigns in all, down to and including Ch'ung Chêng.
136	权奄肆，	寇如林。	quán yǎn sì	kòu rú lín	The hold on the people was relaxed, and rebels sprang up thick as forests.
137	至李闯，	神器终。	zhì lǐ chuǎng	shén qì zhōng	Then came Li Ch'uang, and the Imperial regalia were destroyed.
138	清太祖，	应景命。	qīng tài zǔ	yīng jǐng mìng	The founder of the Ch'ing or Pure dynasty responded to the glorious summons;
139	靖四方，	克大定。	jìng sìfāng	kè dà dìng	he tranquillised the four quarters (N.S.E. and W.), and achieved the final settlement of the empire.
140	廿二史，	全在兹。	niàn èr shǐ	quán zài zī	The Twenty-two Dynastic Histories are all embraced in the above.
141	载治乱，	知兴衰。	zài zhì luàn	zhī xīng shuāi	They contain examples of good and bad government, whence may be learnt the principles of prosperity and decay.
142	读史书，	考实录。	dú shǐshū	kǎo shí lù	Ye who read history must study the State Annals,
143	通古今，	若亲目。	tōng gǔ jīn	ruò qīn mù	whereby you will understand ancient and modern events, as though having seen them with your own eyes.
144	口而诵，	心而惟。	kǒu ér sòng	xīn ér wéi	Recite them with the mouth, and ponder over them in your hearts.
145	朝于斯，	夕于斯。	zhāo yú sī	xī yú sī	Do this in the morning; do this in the evening.
146	昔仲尼，	师项橐。	xī zhòng ní	shī xiàng tuó	Of old, Confucius took Hsiang T'o for his teacher.
147	古圣贤，	尚勤学。	gǔ shèngxián	shàng qín xué	The inspired men and sages of old studied diligently nevertheless.
148	赵中令，	读鲁论。	zhào zhòng lìnɡ	dú lǔ lùn	Chao, President of the Council, studied the Lu text of the "Lun Yü".
149	彼既仕，	学且勤。	bǐ jì shì	xué qiě qín	He, when already an official, studied, and moreover with diligence.
150	披蒲编，	削竹简。	pī pú biān	xiāo zhújiǎn	One opened out rushes and plaited them together; another scraped tablets of bamboo.
151	彼无书，	且知勉。	bǐ wú shū	qiě zhī miǎn	These men had no books, but they knew how to make an effort.
152	头悬梁，	锥刺股。	tóu xuán liáng	zhuī cì gǔ	One tied his head to the beam above him; another pricked his thigh with an awl.
153	彼不教，	自勤苦。	bǐ bù jiāo	zì qín kǔ	They were not taught, but toiled hard of their own accord.
154	如囊萤，	如映雪。	rú náng yíng	rú yìng xuě	Then we have one who put fireflies in a bag, and again another who used the white glare from snow.
155	家虽贫，	学不缀。	jiā suī pín	xué bù chuò	Although their families were poor, these men studied unceasingly.
156	如负薪，	如挂角。	rú fù xīn	rú guà jiǎo	Again, there was one who carried fuel, and another who used horns as pegs.
157	身虽劳，	犹苦卓。	shēn suī láo	yóu kǔ zhuó	Although they toiled with their bodies, they were nevertheless remarkable for their application.
158	苏老泉，	二十七。	sū lǎo quán	èrshí qī	Su Lao-ch'üan, at the age of twenty-seven,
159	始发愤，	读书籍。	shǐ fà fèn	dúshū jí	at last began to show his energy and devote himself to the study of books.
160	彼既老，	犹悔迟。	bǐ jì lǎo	yóu huǐ chí	Then, when already past the age, he deeply regretted his delay.
161	尔小生，	宜早思。	ěr xiǎo shēng	yí zǎo sī	You little boys should take thought betimes.
162	若梁灏，	八十二。	ruò liáng hào	bāshí èr	Then there was Liang Hao, who at the age of eighty-two,
163	对大廷，	魁多士。	duì dà tíng	kuí duō shì	made his replies in the great hall, and came out first among many scholars.
164	彼既成，	众称异。	bǐ jì chéng	zhòng chēng yì	When thus late he had succeeded, all men pronounced him a prodigy.
165	尔小生，	宜立志。	ěr xiǎo shēng	yí lìzhì	You little boys should make up your minds to work.
166	莹八岁，	能咏诗。	yíng bā suì	néng yǒng shī	Jung at eight years of age, could compose poetry.
167	泌七岁，	能赋棋。	bì qī suì	néng fù qí	Pi, at seven years of age, could make an epigram on "wei-ch'i".
168	彼颖悟，	人称奇。	bǐ yǐngwù	rén chēng qí	These youths were quick of apprehension, and people declared them to be prodigies.
169	尔幼学，	当效之。	ěr yòu xué	dàng xiào zhī	You young learners ought to imitate them.
170	蔡文姬，	能辨琴。	Cài wén jī	néng biàn qín	Ts'ai Wên-chi was able to judge from the sound of a psaltery.
171	谢道韫，	能咏吟。	xiè dào yùn	néng yǒng yín	Hsieh Tao-yün was able to compose verses.
172	彼女子，	且聪敏。	bǐ nǚzī	qiě cōng mǐn	They were only girls, yet they were quick and clever.
173	尔男子，	当自警。	ěr nánzǐ	dàng zì jǐng	You boys ought to rouse yourselves.
174	唐刘晏，	方七岁。	táng liú yàn	fāng qī suì	Liu Yen of the T'ang dynasty, when only seven years of age,
175	举神童，	作正字。	jǔ shéntóng	zuò zhèng zì	was ranked as an "inspired child", and was appointed a Corrector of Texts.
176	彼虽幼，	身已仕。	bǐ suī yòu	shēn yǐ shì	He, although a child, was already in an official post.
177	尔幼学，	勉而致。	ěr yòu xué	miǎn ér zhì	You young learners strive to bring about a like result.
178	有为者，	亦若是。	yǒuwéi zhě	yì ruòshì	Those who work will also succeed as he did.
179	犬守夜，	鸡司晨。	quǎn shǒuyè	jī sī chén	The dog keeps guard by night; the cock proclaims the dawn.
180	苟不学，	曷为人。	gǒu bù xué	hé wéirén	If foolishly you do not study, how can you become men?
181	蚕吐丝，	蜂酿蜜。	cán tù sī	fēng niàng mì	The silkworm produces silk, the bee makes honey.
182	人不学，	不如物。	rén bù xué	bùrú wù	If man does not learn, he is not equal to the brutes.
183	幼而学，	壮而行。	yòu ér xué	zhuàng ér xíng	Learn while young, and when grown up apply what you have learnt;
184	上致君，	下泽民。	shàng zhì jūn	xià zé mín	influencing the sovereign above; benefiting the people below.
185	扬名声，	显父母。	yángmíng shēng	xiǎn fùmǔ	Make a name for yourselves, and glorify your father and mother,
186	光于前，	裕于后。	guāng yú qián	yù yú hòu	shed lustre on your ancestors, enrich your posterity.
187	人遗子，	金满嬴。	rén yí zǐ	jīn mǎn yíng	Men bequeath to their children coffers of gold;
188	我教子，	惟一经。	wǒ jiāo zǐ	wéiyī jīng	I teach you children, only this book.
189	勤有功，	戏无益。	qín yǒu gōng	xì wú yì	Diligence has its reward; play has no advantages,
190	戒之哉，	宜勉力。	jiè zhī zāi	yí miǎn lì	Oh, be on your guard, and put forth your strength.

Ref: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/San_Tzu_Ching

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