Three Word Scripture-Tam Tự Kinh

7/31/2019 Three Word Scripture-Tam T Kinh

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The four points, South, North, West, and East, respond to the requirements of the center.

The five elements, water, fire, wood, metal, and earth, have their origin in number.

The five virtues, benevolence, loyalty, etiquette/manner, wisdom, and trust, do not admit any

compromises.

Rice, spike millet, pulse, wheat, glutinous millet, and common millet are six grains that we (human) eat.

The six animals that we (human) have are the horses, ox, sheep, chickens, dogs, and pigs.

Joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, dislike, and desire are the seven passions that we human beings

have.

The eight musical sounds are the ground, earthenware, skin wood, stone metal, silk, and bamboo.

The nine generations are from great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather, father, self, son,

and grandson, great grandson, and great great grandson. And this is the kinships of human.

The ten obligations/principles are common to all human:

Affection between father and child;

Harmony between husband and wife;

Friendliness on the part of elder brothers;

Respectfulness on the part of younger brothers;

Precedence between elder and younger siblings;

Being friendly to friends;

Respect on the part of the sovereign;

Loyalty on the part of the subject.

There should be explanation and elucidation, careful teaching of the interpretations of commentators,

and enough attention to good paragraphs and sentences in the education for the youths.

Those who are learners must have a beginning in their learning process. After finishing the Little

Learning written by Zhu-xi, they shall proceed to the Four Books.

The Analects has twenty chapters of wise sayings of Confucius which were recorded and written by

Confucius' disciples.

The works of Mencius consists seven chapters. It talks about morality, virtues, benevolence, and

loyalty.

The Doctrine of the Means is written by Zi-si. Zhong means right in the middle and does not lean

toward neither side. Yung means things should not be changed.

Zeng-zi wrote the Great Learning. It begins with cultivation of the individual and ordering of the family,

and continues to government of one's own state and ordering of the family.


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When the Classic of Filial Piety is mastered and the Four Books are known well, then the next step is

to read and study the Six Classics.

The Six Classics are the Book of Poetry, the Book of History, the Book of Changes, the Rites of Zhou

Dynasty, the Book of Music, and the Spring and Autumn. These should be carefully explained and

analyzed.

There are three systems that elucidate the changes: Lian-shan system, Gui-cang system, and the

system of changes of Zhou Dynasty.

There are regulations, counsels, instructions, announcements, oaths, charges in the Book of History

and they are the profundities of the book.

Our Duke of Zhou Dynasty created the ritual of the Zhou Dynasty, set forth the futies of the six classes

of officials, and gave a settled governmental form.

The elder and younger Dai wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites and published the hold words.

The ceremonies and music were set in order.

There are four sections of the Book of Poetry that should be hummed over and over, and they are

Guo-fong, Da-yai, Xiao-yai, and Song.

The three commentaries explain classics above include Gong-yang written by Gong Yang-gao, Left

Zhuang written by Zuo Qiuo-ming, and Gu-liang zhuang written by Gu-liang Chi.

When the classics were understood, then the writings of the various philosophers should be read. Pick

the important points in each and take notes on the facts.

The five well-known phlosophers are Shun Zi, Yang Zi, Wen-zhong Zi, Lao Zi, and Zhuang Zi.

When the classics and the philosophers' books are mastered, the various histories should then be

read, and the genealogical connections should be examined, so that the end of one dynasty and the

beginning of the next one could be known.

The Three Rulers are Fu-xi, Shen-nong, and Yellow Emperor, who lived in the early ages that is hard

to investigate the facts and history due to the fact that there were no written records.

The Two Emperors are Yao in Tang and Shun in Yu. They both abdicated, one after the other, and

their period of ruling time was called the Golden Age.

The Kings of three States/Dynasties are Yu in Xia, Tang in Shang, and Wen and Wu in Zhou.

After Xia, the throne was transmitted from father to son and the empire had become a family

possession. After four hundred years, the imperial sacrifice passed from the Xia to another dynasty.


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The five dynasties in this period of time include Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Zhou. In order to be

distinguished from previous dynasties that have the same titles, these five dynasties were added Ho

(Late) before their titles. There were reasons for their establishment and why they were ended.

Then the Fire-Song arose and received the resignation of the throne of the Zhou Dynasty. The throne

was transmitted eighteen times and ended by Yuan Dynasty. Finally the north and south were reunitedby Yuan.

At that time, Liao and Jin both occupied a part of China's territory. Then, Jin ended Liao. Later until

Yuan Tai-zong ended Jin, and Yuan Shi-zu, Hu Bi-lie, ended South Song and established Yuan

Dynasty.

After about ninety years of ruling the empire, Yuan was ended by Zhu Yuan-zhang, who later

established Ming Dynasty, named the year title Hong-wu and located the capital in Jin-ling (now Nan-

jing).

Until Ming Tai-zu, the capital was relocated in Yian-jing (now Beijing) and the throne was transmitted

sixteen times until Chong-zhen. The reason why Ming ended was because of the eunuchs' seizing the

power and the country's full of robbers. A good example is robber Li Zi-cheng who called himself King

Chuang. The Ming was followed by Qing Dynasty.

Qing Shi-zu, Shun Zi was the first emperor of Qing Dynasty after Man Clan came to what we so called

Zhong-yuan (China's territory). He brought peace to the empire. Later the throne was transmitted to

Kang-xi, then Yong-zheng, Qian-long, Jia-qing. The world was peaceful.

Until the time of Dao-guang and Xian-fong, turmoil arose and foreign invasions came from England

and France. After Tong-guang, the time of Shuan-tong was weak. Shuan-tong was the nieth emperor

of Qing and the empire ended when he was ruling.

Revolutions arose, the empirical system was abrogated, a constitution was established, and tehn

Ming-guo started since then. The history starts from the Three Emperors until Qing Dynasty is

recorded here. From the recorded each dynasty's ruling and governing ways. the reasons of arisen

and end could be understood and the lessons could be learned from the good and bad governmental

rulings.

Whoever reads the history must study the Annals. Hence, one will understand ancient and modern

events, as having seen them with his/her own eyes.

Recite them and ponder them over in your hearts. Do this in the morning and evening.

Confucius took Xiang-to as his teacher. The ancient saints and sages all studied diligently

nevertheless.

Zhao, the president of the Council, studied the Lu Test of the Analects. He studied with diligence when

he was already an official.


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One opened out rushes and plaited them together, whereas another scraped tablets of bamboo. These

men had no books/education, but they knew how to make an effort.

One tied his head to the bean above him; another one pricked his thigh with an awl. They were not

taught, but toiled hard of their own accord.

There was someone back then put fireflies in a bag in order to read. Another one used the white glare

from snow as a light to read. Although their families were poor, they did not stop learning. Instead, they

studied unceasingly.

There were someone carried fuel and another one used horns and pegs. Although they toiled with their

bodies, they were nevertheless remarkable for their application.

Su Lao-chuan began to show his energy towards learning and devoted himself to the study of books

when he was twenty-seven.

If you already passed the age of learning, you will probably regret deeply for the delay. You little

children should earlier take the timing into consideration.

Then there was someone called Liang Hao. When he was eighty-two, he made his replies to the great

hall and came out first among many scholars.

Although he had succeeded late, all men thought him a prodigy. You little boys should make up your

minds what to do in the future.

Ying could compose poetry when he was only eight. Qin could make an epigram on Wei-qi (Chinese

checker) when he was only seven.

These youths were quick on apprehension and people declared them to be prodigies. You young

learners ought to imitate them and follow their steps.

Cai Wen-ji was able to distinguish the sound of a psaltery. Xie Dao-yun could compose verses. They

were only girls, yet they were quick and clever. You boys should rouse yourselves.

Liu Yen of Tang Dynasty was ranked as an inspired child when he was only seven years old. He was

also appointed a Corrector of Texts.

He, although was only a child, was already in an official position. You young learners strive to bring

about alike result. Those who work will also succeed as he did.

The dog guards at night, and the cock proclaims the dawn. If you do not study/learn, how can you

become men?

The silkworm produces silk, and the bees make honey. If we men do not learn, we are not equal to the

brutes.


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We should learn while we are still young. Then we can apply what we have learned after we grow up.

By doing so, up to the sovereign and down to we people can benefit from it.

Make good reputation for ourselves and have our parents being proud of us. Then we can shed luster

on our ancestors and enrich our posterity.

People usually bequeath to their children coffers of gold, but I am different. I left them one book, three-

word sutra, in order to teach them to study and the way of being a better person.

Diligence has its reward and play has no advantages. Be your own guard and put forth your strength.

Three Word Scripture-Tam Tự Kinh

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