Three Character Classic
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The Three Character Classic (三字經) is one of the Chinese classic texts, and was the first such text studied by school-children until it fell into disuse during the Cultural Revolution. With this short and simple text arranged in three-character verses, Chinese children learned many common characters, grammar structures, elements of Chinese history and the basis of Confucian morality.
The first four verses state the core credo of Confucianism as developed by Confucius' follower Mencius, and used as a state religion for the most part of Chinese imperial period: Human nature is good and unique.
人之初 People at birth, 性本善 Are naturally good. 性相近 Their natures are similar, 習相遠 Their habits become different.
Even nowadays, the above two introductory quotes are very familiar to most youths in Taiwan, if not known by the heart. Though it is no longer taught at public schools, some Taiwanese parents still use this classic to teach their infants to pronounce words. It is an occasional Taiwanese elementary school game for children to and show off who can recite the most sentences from this classic.
External links
- The Three Character Classic (http://afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Sanzijing) in Chinese with translation of Herbert Giles,
- Another English translation (http://www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/sanzijing.html),
- Yet another English translation (http://hemaoxian.nease.net/english/szj.htm),
- Its debated revival (http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/88469.htm) in mainland China.de:Drei-Zeichen-Klassiker