This passage is from "Thousand Characters", which was compiled by Zhou Xingsi, assistant minister of Liang in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
The original text is as follows:
I am born with this body, and I am permanent.
Only bow and lift, dare to damage.
Women are virtuous and virtuous, while men are virtuous.
Once you know it, you must change it and never forget it.
Don't talk about a person's shortcomings, just rely on yourself.
The messenger can reply, but the equipment is difficult to measure.
Tears are dyed with silk, and poems praise lambs.
Wei Xing County, Beijing, can be born in.
Translation:
People's body and skin belong to the "Big Four", and everything they say and do should conform to the "Five Permanent Principles". I sincerely think of the kindness of my parents, and dare not destroy it.
Women should admire those women who are chaste and strict, and men should imitate those talented and moral women. If you know that you are wrong, you must correct it; Don't give up what suits you.
Don't talk about other people's shortcomings, and don't rely on your own strengths to make progress. If you are honest, you must stand the test and you must be generous, which is hard to estimate.
Mozi lamented that the white silk was stained with variegated colors, and the Book of Songs praised the lamb for being as white as ever. We should admire the virtues of sages, restrain our own selfish desires and try to imitate them.
Extended data:
Creation background
It is said that Minister Yin was asked to write a thousand different words from Wang Xizhi's works, each with a piece of paper for his children to copy.
Because the examples used are all chosen by looking for places in the east and west, it is very inconvenient to copy them when rubbing.
Therefore, Liang Wudi came up with the idea of compiling these 1000 different words into a fluent and charming article. So he called Sanshou to serve Zhou Xingsi and ordered him to write rhymes.
Zhou Xingsi returned home immediately after receiving the imperial edict, closed the door, spread the thousand words on the table, put them on the ground, read them word by word and recited them repeatedly. It was not until dawn that I suddenly realized that these 1000 different words were connected into a rich poem, which is the famous "Wang Xizhi's Two Rhymes Book Thousand Words", that is, "Thousand Words".
Zhou Xingsi used his brain too much because he wrote a book overnight, and his temples turned white the next day.
Baidu Encyclopedia-"Thousand Characters"
Phoenix. Com- Nanjing Memory | Thousand Characters: A Mongolian reader in China that has been circulated for thousands of years.