The Three Character Classic (Sanzi Jing)

A modern interpretation of the traditional Chinese literacy text, with Chinese text, English translation, notes, and background information.

By Phebe Xu Gray, PhD

SAMPLE CHAPTER

Original Text (with pinyin):

人之初，性本善。
性相近，习相远。

Notes:
之: a classic Chinese word equpivlent to modern Chinese “的。”
初: beginning
性: nature, character, disposition
本: origin, originally
善: good
相: mutual, mutually
近: close, similiar
习: practice, habits
远: far, different

Modern Chinese:
人在刚出生的时候，本性都是良好的。每个人的性情本来很相近，但是由于受各种影响，慢慢会养成相差很远的习气，性情也会变得差别很大。（因此，小孩子的可塑性很大。）

Translation:
When people were born, their moral nature was good. Their disposition was similar as well. However, due to various factors of external influence, people form different habits, which result in great differences in their dispositions.

Background information:
The opening chapter of this classic primer establishes the importance and means of character education. It argues that it is important to set a solid foundation in developmental periods of early stages in life, and there is much plasticity in the quality formation of young people. Confucian thought has been dominating Chinese culture, society, and education since the 1st century. Unlike Christianity, which considers man born with a sinful nature, Confucianism considers man to be endowed with a capacity for good character. It attributes the evils of man to environmental factors; therefore, men are creatures of conditioning. Confucianism puts much emphasis on moral education, warning youth to learn from good examples and shun bad examples.

A Concise Illustrated History of Chinese Printing

By Luo Shubao

Chinese people made many great inventions in history, among which papermaking, printing, gunpowder and the compass have the most far-reaching global impact and are acknowledged as the Four Great Inventions. The invention of printing is China’s greatest contribution to human civilization, which not only accelerates the spread of information and knowledge but also keeps promoting social progress. The art of printing has, therefore, been called the mother of civilization.

A Concise Illustrated History of Chinese Printing offers a comprehensive overview of the origin, development and application of printing in China from ancient times to the last Chinese dynasty that ended in the early twentieth century. The book discusses, in detail and with full color illustrations, the two major printing types in China -- block printing and movable-type printing, with emphasis on printing technology and the contents printed. There are also sections on art appreciation of ancient Chinese book editions and book collection.

A member of the Chinese Association of Writers of Popular Science, Luo Shubao was editor-in-chief of the Printing Technology magazine, deputy editor-in-chief of the Printing Industry Press, and deputy director of China Printing Museum. His book-length publications include An Illustrated History of Printing in Ancient China, Three Thousand Years of Chinese Books, Five Thousand Years of Chinese Calligraphy (Illustrated), and Light of Printing.