全文/ The Text (6)

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xī zhòng ní  shī xiàng tuó
昔 仲 尼¹  师 项 橐²
gǔ shèng xián  shàng qín xué
古 圣 贤  尚 勤 学
zhào zhōng lìng  dú lǔ lūn
赵 中 令³  读 鲁 论⁴
bǐ jì shì  xué qiě qín
彼⁵ 既 仕⁶  学 且 勤

In ancient times, Confucius acknowledged Xiang Tuo as his teacher.
Even an ancient and wise sage as Confucius continued to study diligently.
Imperial secretary Zhao read the Analects.
Already an official, yet he continued to study and study hard.

注释/Notes

1. 仲尼: Confucius’ first name. His full name is Qiu Zhongni(丘仲尼).
2. 项橐: Confucius’ teacher who lived in the State of Lu(鲁). A child genius, he was seven years old when Confucius consulted him.
3. 赵中令: Zhao Pu (赵普), a court official who lived during the Northern Song era(中令 refers to his official title 中书令).
4. 鲁论: another term for “The Analects” by Confucius. Confucius was from the State of Lu(鲁).
5. 彼: he.
6. 仕: an official.

大意/General Meaning
Someone as wise and old as Confucius would continue to learn from others and even humbly consulted seven-year-old Xiang Tuo, the child genius.  We should learn from Confucius and continued to study diligently and from people around us.

Zhao Pu, a court official, loved to read “The Analects” by Confucius. By the Han dynasty, there were three versions of this classical text, of which the version we known today was then called the “The Analects of Lu”().  Even when he was an official, Zhao Pu continued to study this text diligently.  He told the emperor then that half of the text allowed him to assist Emperor Taizu to conquer the world, while the other half would allow him to help the emperor to bring peace and prosperity to the people.

pī pú biān  xiāo zhú jiǎn
披¹ 蒲 编²  削 竹 简³
bǐ wú shū  qiě zhī miǎn
彼 无 书  且 知 勉

Weaved split reeds, shaved bamboo tubes,
They had no books but they worked hard to learn.

注释/Notes

1. 披: opened up.
2. 蒲编: a book made by weaving the blades of the cattail plants(蒲) together.
3. 竹简: bamboo strips.

大意/General Meaning
A Western Han scholar, Lu Wenshu(路温舒), used to weave his books when he was young as he was too poor to buy any.  While tending sheep for others, he would pick up the leaf blades of the reed grass and dried them.  Then he would use strings to string them together into a book which he would use to copy the text.  He read many books this way and became a high-ranking official in later life.

Han dynasty scholar, Gongsun Hong(公孙弘), was also from a poor family.  While he was helping others to look after their pigs, he used the use to cut numerous bamboo strips which he strung together to form a book to copy the Spring and Autumn Annals to read. Like Lu Wenshu, he read many books this way and became someone very learned.

These scholars did not have the money nor the conditions that allowed them to study, yet they could create the necessary conditions to motivate themselves to pursue their own studies.  This is what we should learn from them.

tóu xuán liáng  zhuī cì gǔ
头 悬 梁¹  锥 刺 股²
bǐ bù jiào  zì qín kǔ
彼 不 教  自 勤 苦

Hair tied to the pillar, awl pierced the thigh,
Neither was taught, they studied hard on their own.

注释/Notes

1. 头悬梁: hair tied to the pillar of the roof.
2. 锥刺股: using an awl to pierce one’s thigh.

大意/General Meaning
Han dynasty scholar Sun Jing(孙敬), in order to prevent himself from dozing off while studying late at night, would tie his hair to the pillar on the ceiling so that the pain of his head nodding downwards would wake him up.

Sun Qin(苏秦), who lived during the Warring States period, would use an awl to pierce his thigh so that the pain would keep him awake in order that he could finish the books he wanted to read.

Nobody forced these scholars to study so hard.  They did it voluntarily on their own because they wished to fulfil their high aspirations and mighty goals.

rú náng yíng  rú yìng xuě
如 囊 萤¹  如 映 雪²
jiā suī pín  xué bù chuò
家 虽 贫  学 不 辍³
rú fù xīn  rú guà jiǎo
如 负 薪⁴  如 挂 角⁵
shēn suī láo  yóu kǔ zhuó
身 虽 劳  犹 苦 卓

Using fireflies in a bag or reflected light from the snow.
Although poor, they never stopped their studies.
Even when bearing the firewood, hanging books on horns,
Exhausted physically they may be, they continued to study hard.

注释/Notes

1. 囊萤: 囊- put (something) inside a bag; 萤-
2. 映雪: 映- reflect; 雪- snow.
3. 辍: stop, end.
4. 负薪: 负 – carry; 薪- firewood.
5. 挂角: 挂- hang; 角- horn.

大意/General Meaning
Che Yin(车胤), who lived during the Eastern Jin(东晋) Dynasty, had no money to buy oil to light the lamp when he was young.  To study at night, he captured fireflies and put them in a bag to provide the light he needed to read his books.  He rose to prominence in later life as a military officer and court minister.

Sun Kang(孙康), a Western Jin (西晋)scholar, used the light reflected from the snow to read at night as he was also too poor to afford the oil for lamps.  He became a minister in later life.  Both Che Yin and Sun Kang were poor but they never gave up on their studies.

Zhu Maichen(朱买臣), who lived during the Han dynasty, loved to read but had very little luck and continued to be poor right into his middle-age.  He would read his books as he carried firewood to the market to sell.  His talent was later recognized by the court and he was made an official.

Living in the Sui (隋)dynasty, Li Mi(李密) loved to read and he was said to have made a cushion for himself on the back of an ox and hang the books on the horns of his ox so that he could read while tending to his herd.  He later became a key leader of the uprising against the Sui throne.

sū lǎo quán  èr shí qī
苏 老 泉¹  二 十 七
shǐ fā fèn  dú shū jí
始 发 愤  读 书 籍
bǐ jì lǎo  yóu huǐ chí
彼 既 老  犹 悔 迟
ěr xiǎo shēng  yí zǎo sī
尔² 小 生  宜 早 思

Su Laoquan, at age twenty-seven,
Made a determined effort to start reading.
When he was much older, he regretted his late start.
Young children should hence start thinking early.

注释/Notes

1. 苏老泉: Su Xun(苏洵).
2. 尔: you.

大意/General Meaning
Sun Laoquan was a famous Northern Song (北宋) scholar, who only resolved to study when he was 27 years old.  Although he started late, he did not give up and worked up and he still managed to build a bright future for himself.  Together with his sons, he was listed as an important writer.  It was said he often regretted having started to late.  Young children should take heed of this and start to plan for yourself and your studies soon.

ruò liáng hào  bā shí’ èr
若 梁 灏¹  八 十 二
duì dà tíng  kuí duō shì
对 大 廷  魁² 多 士
bǐ jì chéng  zhòng chēng yì
彼 既 成  众 称 异
ěr xiǎo shēng  yí lì zhì
尔 小 生  宜 立 志

Liang Hao, at age eighty-two,
He topped the exams and passed through the great hall.
When he finally succeeded, everyone thought he was exceptional.
Young minds, you should plan for your future now.

注释/Notes

1. 梁灏: a scholar who lived during the Five Dynasties era.
2. 魁: came in top.

大意/General Meaning
Liang Hao, a scholar who lived during the Five Dynasties era, topped the imperial exams at age 82 and was summoned to see the emperor.  Many marveled at his late success.  Young children should start planning now and think about your goals and aspirations.

yíng bā suì  néng yǒng shī
莹¹ 八 岁  能 咏² 诗
mì qī suì  néng fù qí
泌³ 七 岁  能 赋 棋⁴
bǐ yǐng wù  rén chēng qí
彼 颖 悟  人 称 奇
ěr yòu xué  dāng xiào zhī
尔 幼 学  当 效 之

Ying, at eight years old, could recite the songs.
Mi, at seven years old, could compose about weiqi.
They learnt fast, people called them geniuses.
Young minds should try to emulate them.

注释/Notes

1. 莹: Zu Ying(祖莹), a person from ancient China who loved to read and study.
2. 咏: composed, recited, sang.
3. 泌: Li Mi(李泌), a famous official who lived during the Tang dynasty.
4. 赋棋: a composition(poem, prose) about Weiqi(围棋), a type of Chinese chess.

大意/General Meaning
Zu Ying(祖莹), from Northern Wei(北魏), who could recite poems from the Book of Songs (《诗经》) when he was just 8 years old.  Li Mi(李泌), from the Tang (唐)dynasty, started to write about Weiqi from when he was 7 years old.

Both child geniuses grew up to be famous officials and was honored and remembered in history.  Young children today should learn from them.

cài wén jī  néng biàn qín
蔡 文 姬¹  能 辩 琴
xiè dào yùn  néng yǒng yín
谢 道 韫²  能 咏 吟
bǐ nǚ zǐ  qiě cōng mǐn
彼 女 子  且 聪 敏
ěr nán zǐ  dāng zì jǐng
尔 男 子  当 自 警

Cai Wenji had perfect pitch.
Xie Daoyun could compose verses.
They were girls yet clever and agile.
Young boys, you should take note.

注释/Notes

1. 蔡文姬: Cai Yan(蔡琰)
2. 谢道韫: a talented and famous female poet who lived during the Eastern Jin(东晋) dynasty.

大意/General Meaning
Cai Wenji was the daughter of famous Eastern Han(东汉) scholar, Cai Yong(蔡邕).  When she was 6 years old, while her father was playing the zither, a string broke, from where she was in the room next to her father, she correctly identified that it was the second string which broke.

Xie Daoyun is a talented and famous female poet who lived during the Eastern Jin(东晋) dynasty.  She was known for her verses.

They were both girls and they were so talented, young men should work hard and not lose to girls like them.

táng liú yàn  fāng qī suì
唐 刘 晏¹  方² 七 岁
jǔ shén tóng  zuò zhèng zì
举 神 童  作 正 字³
bǐ suī yòu  shēn yǐ shì
彼 虽 幼  身 已 仕
ěr yòu xué  miǎn ér zhì
尔 幼 学  勉³ 而 致⁴
yǒu wéi zhě  yì ruò shì
有 为 者  亦 若⁵ 是⁶

During the Tang dynasty, seven-year old Liu Yan lived.
Hailed as a child prodigy, he was the Corrector of Texts.
Although young, he became an official.
When you study hard, your hard work will bring success
If your heart is determined, as this example shows.

注释/Notes

1. 刘晏: a Tang(唐) scholar who was said to be able to compose poems and write compositions from the time he was 7 years old.
2. 方: only.
3. 正字: an office title, responsible for correcting text in books
4. 勉: study hard.
5. 致: succeed.
6. 若: like.
7. 是: this, an example.

大意/General Meaning
Liu Yan was seven years old when his father brought him to see Emperor Xuanzong and to present his poetry.  The premier called him a child prodigy and the emperor offered the position as the Corrector of Texts (which was to correct mistakes in any official documents and in books) on the spot.

Although he was very young, he was already an official.  Young children should learn from him and study hard to achieve their goals.  if they set their minds on their goals, nothing will stand in their way to success as demonstrated by this story.

quǎn shǒu yè  jī sī chén
犬 守 夜  鸡 司³ 晨
gǒu bù xué  hé wéi rén
苟² 不 学  曷⁴ 为 人
cán tǔ sī  fēng niàng mì
蚕 吐 丝  蜂 酿 蜜
rén bù xué  bù rú wù
人 不 学  不 如 物

Dogs guard the nights as roosters mind the dawn.
If you failed to learn, what would you become?
Silkworms make silk, honey bees make honey.
People who do not learn are worse than these creatures.

注释/Notes

1. 司: manages, in charge of.
2. 苟: if.
3. 曷: how, what?

大意/General Meaning
A dog can guard the house at night for its master.  A rooster can remind people to wake up in the morning.  Even domestic animals like these have a particular useful skill, as a human being, if one does not study hard to master anything, how can one survive and contribute to the society?

The silkworms can make silk just as the honeybees will make honey.  They each have a skill that contributes to the well-being of the community.  If one fails to learn, one will not have acquired any skill at all to be useful to the society. Even the worms and bees are better than you.

yòu ér xué  zhuàng ér xíng
幼 而 学  壮 而 行
shàng zhì jūn  xià zé mín
上 致¹ 君  下 泽² 民
yáng míng shēng  xiǎn fù mǔ
扬 名 声  显 父 母
guāng yú qián  yù yú hòu
光³ 于 前  裕⁴ 于 后

Study when one is young so that you can achieve when you are grown.
Offer your skills to your government and bestow your gifts to your people.
Make a name for yourself, make your parents proud.
Bring honor to your family, leave your mark for posterity.

注释/Notes

1. 致: offer, support, work for.
2. 泽: bestow, give.
3. 光: glory, honors.
4. 裕: allow others to receive some benefit

大意/General Meaning
When you have studied hard as a child, you would have developed the skills and knowledge to contribute to the society as an adult.  Thus, you can offer your skills and knowledge to your country and do good to help your people.  As your fame grows, your parents will also be proud of you.  Bring honor to your family and leave your mark on history with your contributions.

rén yí zǐ  jīn mǎn yíng
人 遗¹ 子  金 满 籯²
wǒ jiào zǐ  wéi yī jīng
我 教 子  唯³ 一 经
qín yǒu gōng  xì wú yì
勤 有 功  戏⁴ 无 益
jiè zhī zāi  yí miǎn lì
戒⁵ 之 哉⁶  宜 勉 力

People may bequeath chests of gold to their children.
I left my children just the classic.
Diligence will reap rewards, play will bring none.
Guard against this and study hard.

注释/Notes

1. 遗: left behind.
2. 籯: a chest made from bamboo.
3. 唯: only.
4. 戏: play.
5. 戒: take caution.
6. 哉: a form of exclamation.

大意/General Meaning
A famous scholar who lived during the Han dynasty, Wei Xian(韦贤), said that if we leave chests of gold and wealth to our descendants, they would squander it away if they were not taught how to manage or grow this wealth properly.  Hence it would be better to leave them important lessons that would teach them to be good and responsible people.  Knowledge is far more valuable and creates more wealth than static chests of gold.  The descendants will not only be able to contribute to the society but they can build on their own wealth even they help the government rule and the country prosper.  And thus, they would have an endless supply of wealth.

Diligence will reap rewards while playing and having fun may bring nothing but a waste of precious time.  Young children should remind themselves frequently the importance of their studies and to work hard so as to achieve their goals in life.