Confucian classics, also known as Confucian classics, are the model works of the Confucian school. They are regarded as "classics" by the world and respected by emperors of all dynasties.
Mainly refers to the Thirteen Classics, but also includes the commentaries and explanations of Confucian scholars of the past dynasties. The Thirteen Classics are the basic works of Confucian culture. In terms of traditional concepts, the "Yi", "Poems", "Books", "Li" and "Spring and Autumn" are called "Classics", "Zuo Zhuan", "Gongyang Zhuan" and "Gu Liang Zhuan" "" belongs to the "biography" of "Spring and Autumn Classic", "Book of Rites", "Book of Filial Piety", "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius" are all "notes", and "Erya" is an exegesis work by the classics of the Han Dynasty. Among them, "Jing" has the highest status, followed by "Zhuan" and "Ji", followed by "Erya". Basic introduction Chinese name: Confucian classics Foreign name: Confucian classics Alias: Confucian classics Main books: Thirteen Classics Related characters: Confucius Status, content, evaluation, status It took a long time for the thirteen Confucian texts to achieve the status of "classics" period. In the Han Dynasty, the "Yi", "Poems", "Books", "Li" and "Spring and Autumn" were regarded as the "Five Classics", and the official attached great importance to them and established them as academic officials. In the Tang Dynasty, there were "Nine Classics", which were also established for academic officials and used to recruit scholars. The so-called "Nine Classics" include the "Yi", "Poems", "Books", "Zhou Rites", "Rituals", "Book of Rites" and "Spring and Autumn". During the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, he studied stone carving at Guozi School. In addition to the "Nine Classics", the contents engraved also included the "Analects of Confucius", "Erya" and "The Classic of Filial Piety". During the Five Dynasties, Meng Chang, the leader of Shu, carved the "Eleven Classics", excluding "The Classic of Filial Piety" and "Erya" and including "Mencius". "Mencius" was included in the list of classics for the first time. Zhu Xi, a great scholar in the Southern Song Dynasty, juxtaposed the "Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" in the "Book of Rites" with the "Analects" and "Mencius" to form what is known today as the "Four Books", which was officially recognized. "Mencius" officially became the "Classic of Classics" ". At this point, the thirteen Confucian texts have established its classic status. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the "Thirteen Classics" verses were engraved on stone, and Ruan Yuan also engraved the "Commentaries on the Thirteen Classics". From then on, the name of the "Thirteen Classics" and its revered status in Confucian classics became more and more popular. At first there were only the Six Classics, but later the Music Classic was lost, leaving the Five Classics. With the development of history, there were names such as the Seven Classics, the Thirteen Classics, and the Ten Classics. Content The content of the "Thirteen Classics" is extremely broad. The "Book of Changes" is a book of divination. Its outer layer is mysterious, but its inner philosophy is profound and profound. "Shangshu" is a compilation of ancient historical archives, mainly containing the king's proclamations and records of conversations between the king and his ministers. "The Book of Songs" is a collection of poems from the early Western Zhou Dynasty to the mid-Spring and Autumn Period. It is divided into three parts: "Feng", "Ya" and "Song". "Feng" refers to folk songs, and "Ya" refers to the formal elegant music of Wang Ji of the Western Zhou Dynasty. . "Song" is a dance song and song used for worship in the ancestral temple of the upper class. "Zhou Rites" mainly collects the official system of the Zhou royal family and the systems of various countries during the Warring States period. "Rituals" mainly records the rituals of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "Book of Rites" is a collection of treatises on various rituals before the Qin and Han Dynasties. The three biographies of "Chun Qiu" are works formed around the "Chun Qiu" sutra. "Zuo Zhuan" focuses on the statement of historical events, and "Gongyang Zhuan" and "Gu Liang Biography" focus on discussion. The Analects is a record of the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples. "The Classic of Filial Piety" is a treatise on filial piety. "Mencius" specifically contains Mencius's remarks, thoughts and deeds. "Erya" explains the meanings of words and interprets names and objects, and many classics scholars interpret the scriptures based on it. Evaluation: Confucian culture was in a dominant position during the feudal era. As the classic of Confucian culture, the Thirteen Classics has a respected status and profound influence that is unmatched by any other classics. The supreme ruler not only seeks the principles and plans for governing the country and bringing peace to the world, but also follows Confucian classics in regulating the thoughts of his subjects, establishing ethics and morals, and guiding folk customs. The influence of Confucian classics on society is ever-present and everywhere. To understand and study all aspects of Chinese feudal society, one must read the Thirteen Classics.