The "Thousand Character Essay" was compiled by Zhou Xingsi, the Minister of Sanqi of the Liang Dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and composed of a thousand Chinese characters (before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, texts that did not rhyme or contrast were called "pen", not "wen"). The full text is as follows:
The Thousand-Character Essay
Southern Dynasties · Zhou Xingsi
The sky and earth are dark and yellow, and the universe is primitive.
The sun and moon are full, and the stars and constellations are listed.
Cold comes and summer comes, autumn harvests and winter hides.
When there is a leap year, Lu will adjust Yang.
The clouds turn into rain, and the dew turns into frost.
Gold comes from Lishui, jade comes from Kungang.
The sword is called Juque, and the pearl is called Luminous.
The fruits are rich in plum and the vegetables are heavy on mustard and ginger.
The sea is salty and the river is fresh, and the scales are hidden and the feathers are flying.
The dragon master, the fire emperor, the bird official and the human emperor.
When writing was first made, it was to wear clothes.
There were Yu Tao and Tang Dynasties who gave way to the country.
To punish the people and punish crimes, Zhou issued Yin Tang.
Sit down and ask, bowing your head to the ground.
He loves and educates Li Shou, and his ministers serve the Rong and Qiang.
Far and near are one, and the guests return to the king.
The phoenix sings in the bamboo, and the white horse eats.
Transformed into vegetation, it reaches all directions.
This body and hair are covered by the four elements and five constant elements.
How dare you damage Gongwei's care.
Women admire chastity, and men admire virtue.
If you know your mistakes, you must change them, and if you are able, never forget them.
Don’t talk about the shortcomings of others, but rely on your own strengths.
The messenger can be defeated, but the desire of the weapon is difficult to measure.
The ink dyes the silk with sorrow, and the poem praises the lamb.
Jingxing is a virtuous person, and Ke Nian is a saint.
Virtue builds a reputation, and the form is upright.
The sound is transmitted in the empty valley, and the sound is heard in the empty hall.
Misfortunes are caused by evil accumulation, and blessings are caused by good things.
A ruler and a jade are not treasures, but an inch of yin is a competition.
Zi Fu serves the king with strictness and respect.
To be filial, you should do your best, and to be loyal, you should do your best.
Learning from deep and thin, long-awaited and warm.
As fresh as a orchid, as prosperous as a pine tree.
The stream flows endlessly, reflected in the clear water.
The tone is calm and thoughtful, and the words are calm.
Sincerity is beautiful at the beginning, and it is appropriate to be cautious in the end.
The foundation of prosperity is endless.
He studied well and became an official, and became a regent and engaged in politics.
Keep it in Gantang, go and chant it again.
Music distinguishes between high and low, etiquette distinguishes between high and low.
The top is in harmony with the bottom, and the husband sings and the wife follows.
He was trained by Fu outside and became a rite of worship for his mother.
All aunts and uncles are like sons and daughters.
Brothers Kong Huai are like brothers.
Score points for making friends and cutting rules.
Be kind and compassionate, and you can never leave after making mistakes.
Be honest and upright, and be honest and honest.
Quiet in nature and relaxed in mood, with an excited heart and a tired mind.
Stand true and be full of ambition, and pursue things and change your mind.
Adhere to elegance and be good at self-discipline.
The city is Huaxia, and there are two capitals in the east and west.
Back to Mang and facing Luo, floating on Wei and occupying Jing.
The palace is gloomy and the view from the building is startling.
The pictures depict animals and colorful fairies.
Beside the Bing house, there is a couplet facing the A tent.
A banquet was set up, with drums, harps and sheng played.
Upgraded to accept the throne, turned to the star of doubt.
The right leads to Guang Nei, and the left reaches Chengming.
It not only gathers tombs, but also gathers heroes.
Du Manuscript, Zhongli, and lacquered script on the wall.
The generals and ministers of the mansion are Luo, and the heroes of the road are Huaiqing.
Eight counties were sealed off, and the family was given thousands of soldiers.
The high crown accompanies the chariot, driving the hub and vibrating the tassels.
The world is luxurious and rich, and the car is fat and light.
The achievements are substantial and the inscriptions are inscribed on the tablets.
Yi Yin of Fuxi River, assisted by A Heng.
Amazhai Qufu, Wei Dan’s camp.
Gong Huan helped the weak and supported the weak.
Qi returned to Hanhui and expressed her gratitude to Wu Ding.
Know what is right and what is right, but what is wise is true.
Jin and Chu were more domineering, while Zhao and Wei were in dire straits.
The false way will destroy Guo, and the true soil will make an alliance.
How to abide by the contract and law, and Han will suffer from punishment.
The Qi Jian is quite animal husbandry, and the military is the best.
Xuanwei Desert is famous for its paintings.
The traces of Yu in nine states, and the merger of hundreds of counties with Qin.
Yue Zong Taidai, Zen master Yunting.
Yanmen Zisai, Jitian Chicheng.
Kunchi Jieshi, Juye Dongting.
The vastness is far away, and the mountains are deep and dark.
Treat the root cause of the problem and focus on farming.
My art is millet and millet.
If you pay taxes, pay tribute to new ones, and encourage rewards to depose the emperor.
Meng Ke was honest, and Shi Yu was upright.
The common people are moderate, but I sincerely give this order.
Listen to the sound and understand the reason, and discern the appearance and color.
It is necessary to encourage Jiayou to plant it.
Eliminate ridicule and admonition, favor and increase resistance.
It was almost a shame, but Lin Gao was lucky.
When two people see opportunities, who will force them to break up?
Just stay in a quiet place, silent and lonely.
Seek the ancients and seek theories, and relax your thoughts.
I am happy to play and tired of dispatching, and I am happy to thank you for recruiting.
The calendar of the canal and the lotus, and the garden is drawing strips.
The loquats are green at night, and the sycamores are withered by fleas.
Chen Gen is in the shade, and the fallen leaves are swaying.
The wandering Kun travels alone, and the sky is full of light.
Read, play, and watch the market.
Easy to be frightened, it belongs to the ear wall.
Easy to eat and drink, it is delicious and filling.
When you are full, you will cook and slaughter, but when you are hungry, you will be tired of the chaff.
Relatives are old and old, old and young have different food.
I am a concubine who spins clothes and serves as a servant in the draping room.
The fan is round and clean, and the silver candle is bright.
Sleeping during the day and sleeping at night, the blue bamboo shoots look like a bed.
Enjoy the banquet with music and wine, take the glasses and raise the wine.
Stretching your hands and feet will make you happy and healthy.
The direct descendants continued and offered sacrifices to Haochang.
Jizhen bowed again, terrified and frightened.
The ultimatum is brief and the answer is detailed.
The dirt wants to bathe, and the heat wants to cool.
Donkeys, mules and calves are so special that they can leap ahead of them.
Execute thieves and thieves and capture rebels.
Bushe Liaowan, Ji Qin and Ruan Xiao.
Tian pen and paper, Jun Qiao is allowed to fish.
It explains the differences and benefits the customs, and everything is wonderful.
Mao Shi is graceful, and the workman has a beautiful smile.
Every time the year passes, the sun shines brightly.
Xuanji hangs in the air, and the darkness shines all around.
Refers to the salary to repair the evil, and the eternal peace is auspicious.
Lead step by step and admire the gallery temple.
The girdle is tied to the solemnity, wandering and looking around.
Ignorant, ignorant and ignorant.
It’s so easy to say that the predicate helps.
Translation
The sky is black, the earth is yellow, and the universe is vast and boundless.
The sun is upright and slanted, the moon is upright and slanted, the moon is erratic and round, and the stars are all over the boundless space.
The cycle of cold and heat changes, coming and going, going and coming again. In autumn, we are busy harvesting, and in winter, we are busy storing.
The accumulated leaps of several years are combined into one month. In leap years, the ancients used Liulu and Liulu to regulate yin and yang.
When clouds rise to the sky, they form rain when they encounter the cold. Dew quickly condenses into frost when it encounters the cold night.
Gold is born at the bottom of the Jinsha River, and jade comes from the Kunlun Mountains.
The most famous sword is called "Juque", and the most precious pearl is called "Yeguang".
The most precious fruits are plums and pomegranates, and the most valued vegetables are mustard and ginger.
The sea water is salty and the river water is fresh. Fish swim in the water and birds fly in the sky.
The Dragon Master, the Fire Emperor, the Bird Official, and the Human Emperor: these are all imperial officials from ancient times.
With Cangjie, writing began to be created, and with Leizu, people began to wear clothes that covered their bodies.
Tang Yao and Yu Shun were wise and selfless, and took the initiative to abdicate their thrones to meritorious officials.
To appease the people and defeat the tyrants, there were King Wu of Zhou Jifa and Lord Shang Chengtang.
The wise king sits in the court, discusses the ways of governing the country, hangs his clothes and hands over his hands, and discusses state affairs with the ministers.
They care for and care about the common people, and people of all ethnic groups from all over the world flock to them.
Far and near are united, and they are all willing to submit to the virtuous king.
The phoenix sings happily in the bamboo forest, the white horse forages on the grassland, the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and everything is auspicious.
The teachings of the wise king cover every plant and tree in nature, and his blessings spread to all the people in the world.
The human body, hair and skin belong to the "Four Elements", and every word and action must conform to the "Five Constants".
I beg you to be nurtured and cherished by my parents, and not to be damaged or harmed in the slightest.
Women should yearn for those chaste women who are praised by others, and men should imitate virtuous and talented wise men.
Know that you have made mistakes, you must correct them, and don’t give up on things that suit you.
Don't talk about other people's shortcomings, and don't rely on your own strengths to make progress.
To be honest, you must be able to withstand the test of time, and you must be generous and hard to measure.
Mozi wept over the dyeing of white silk, which led to the "Lamb" chapter in the "Book of Songs".
Noble virtues can only be seen in wise men. We must restrain our selfish desires and strive to imitate the saints.
If you develop good morals, you will have a good reputation, just like having a dignified body and a solemn appearance.
The shouts spread far in the empty valley, and the voices in the spacious hall were very clear.
Disaster is caused by the accumulation of doing evil many times, and happiness is the reward obtained by doing good deeds all year round.
A jade that is one foot long is not precious, but an inch of time is worth fighting for.
When you provide for your father and serve your king, you must be serious, cautious, and respectful.
To be filial to your parents, you must do your best, and to be loyal to the king, you must sacrifice your life.
Be as cautious as "walking on thin ice", get up early and go to bed late, so that your parents can be warm in winter and cool in summer.
If you can do this, your virtue will be as fragrant as an orchid and as lush as a green pine.
It can also be extended to future generations, like a great river flowing endlessly, affecting the world, like a clear blue pool shining on people.
Your demeanor should be dignified, and you should look thoughtful. Your words should be prudent, and you should appear calm and calm.
Whether it’s good to cultivate yourself, study, or pay attention to the beginning, it’s more important to do it seriously and get good results.
Being virtuous and filial is the basis for a successful career. Such people have a great reputation and spread endlessly.
If you study well and have enough energy, you can embark on the official path (be an official), hold certain positions, and participate in the political affairs of the country.
When Duke Zhao was alive, he used to govern under the Gantang tree. After his death, the people remembered and praised him even more.
The choice of music should be based on the person's status, and the etiquette should be based on the person's status.
Elders and juniors should live in harmony, and couples should sing along in harmony.
You must obey your teachers’ teachings outside and abide by your mother’s rules at home.
Treat aunts, uncles, uncles and other elders as if they were your own children.
Brothers should love each other very much, because they share the blood of their parents, just like branches connected together.
To make friends, you need to have similar intentions, learn from each other in study, and encourage each other in moral conduct.
Benevolence, kindness, and compassion for others cannot be abandoned even in the most urgent and critical situations.
The virtues of integrity, justice, honesty and humility cannot be lacking even in the most destitute times.
If your character is calm and indifferent, your mood will be at ease. If your heart is impetuous and restless, your spirit will be tired and sleepy.
If you keep your nature pure, you will feel satisfied. If you pursue materialistic enjoyment, your nature will change.
Adhere to noble sentiments, and a good position will naturally come to you.
The ancient capitals were gorgeous and spectacular, including Luoyang in Tokyo and Chang'an in Xijing.
Tokyo's Luoyang is backed by Beimang Mountain and faces Luoshui River in the south. Xijing's Chang'an is across the Wei River on the left and Jingshui on the right.
The palace is winding, overlapping, and towering, which is shocking.
The palace is painted with various birds and animals, depicting colorful gods and goddesses.
The side halls on both sides of the main hall open from the side, with luxurious tents facing the tall pillars.
There was a grand banquet in the palace, the musicians played the sheng, drums and harp, and there was a scene of singing and dancing.
The civil and military officials who climbed the steps to enter the palace, their hats were spinning like stars in the sky.
The right side leads to Guangnei Hall, which is used to store books, and the left side leads to Chengming Hall, where courtiers rest.
There are many classics and classics collected here, as well as groups of literary and military talents.
In the book hall there are Du Du’s cursive script, Zhong Yao’s official script, as well as ancient books written in lacquer and classics on the walls of the Confucius.
The generals and ministers lined up in two rows inside the palace, and the officials and ministers outside the palace stood in the aisles.
Each family has a fiefdom as wide as eight counties and is equipped with more than a thousand soldiers.
Wearing tall official hats, they accompanied the emperor on his travels, driving carriages and horses, with their hatbands fluttering, so majestic.
Their descendants have received salaries for generations, are luxurious and rich, and have light cars and fat horses when they go out, and are proud of the spring breeze.
The imperial court also recorded their merits and deeds in detail and accurately, which were engraved on stone tablets and passed down to future generations.
When King Wu of Zhou met Lu Shang in Fenxi, he respected him as "Tai Gongwang". Yi Yin assisted in current affairs, and King Tang of Shang named him "Aheng".
King Cheng of Zhou occupied the area around Qufu in the ancient state of Amang. How could he have succeeded if not for Zhou Gongdan's assistance?
Qi Huangong met with the princes nine times and sent troops to assist the small princes and small countries that were weak and in danger.
When Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty was the crown prince, he was able to avoid being deposed because of his talents. Shang Jun Wu Ding was inspired by a dream and received the legend of a virtuous minister.
Capable people govern diligently and diligently, and it is only thanks to many such wise men that the country is prosperous, strong and peaceful.
Jin and Chu came to dominate after Qi, while Zhao and Wei were trapped by Qin due to their alliance.
Dong Xian of Jin borrowed a road from the state of Yu to destroy the state of Guo. Duke Wen of Jin met with the princes in Jiantu and elected him as the leader of the alliance.
Xiao He followed the spirit of simple criminal law and formulated the Nine Laws, but Han Fei was trapped by the harsh torture method he advocated.
The Qin generals Bai Qi and Wang Jian, and the Zhao generals Lian Po and Li Mu were the most skillful in leading troops in battle.
Their reputation spread far and wide to the desert borders, and their reputation and portraits were passed down to future generations.
The footprints of Dayu's flood control are everywhere in Kyushu, and all the counties in the country were unified after the Qin Dynasty merged with the Six Kingdoms.
Among the five mountains, people respect Dongyue Mount Tai the most. Emperors of all dynasties have hosted Zen ceremonies at Yunshan and Tingshan.
The Mingguan Pass has Yanmen in northern Xinjiang, the fortress has the Great Wall, the post station has chicken fields on the border, and the strange mountain has Tiantai Chicheng.
Go to Dianchi Lake in Kunming to appreciate the lake, Jieshi in Hebei to view the sea, Juye in Shandong to view the lake, and Dongting in Hunan to view the lake.
The rivers have a long history, and the lakes and seas are vast and boundless. The famous mountains, strange valleys are deep and beautiful, and the scenery is endless.
The foundation of governing the country is to develop agriculture, and we must work hard to do sowing and harvesting.
It’s time to start the year’s farm work. I planted millet and sorghum.
During the harvest season, newly ripened grains are used to pay taxes. The government should reward or punish farmers according to their contribution.
Master Meng Ke advocated purity, while the historian Ziyu was upright.
As a person, you must try your best to conform to the standards of moderation, be diligent, humble, cautious, and know how to advise and admonish yourself.
When listening to what others say, you must carefully examine whether it is reasonable; when looking at other people's faces, you must carefully analyze their expressions.
You should leave correct and wise advice or suggestions to others, and encourage others to conduct themselves in a cautious manner.
When you hear other people’s sarcasm and warnings, you should reflect on yourself and do not get carried away when you are favored and fight against the powerful.
Knowing that something dangerous and shameful is about to happen, it is better to retreat into the mountains and forests.
Shu Guang and Shu Shou retired and returned home after foreseeing the danger. How could anyone force them to remove their official seal?
Isn’t it a good thing to live alone and live leisurely, without having to talk too much all day long, and to be quiet and inactive?
Think about the words of the ancients, read their books, eliminate the worries of the past, and feel happy and comfortable.
Easy things come together, strenuous things are thrown aside, endless troubles are eliminated, and infinite happiness is gained.
The lotus flowers in the pond are blooming brightly, and the vegetation in the garden is sprouting twigs.
The loquats are still green at the end of the year, while the sycamores wither early in the autumn.
The old trees with old roots are withered and fallen, and the fallen leaves are flying everywhere in the autumn wind.
In the cold autumn, Kunpeng flew high alone, straight into the sky full of colorful clouds.
Wang Chong of the Han Dynasty was obsessed with reading in the street market, and all he looked at were book bags and book boxes.
The most fearful thing about speaking is that there is no one around. There are no taboos. Be aware that someone is eavesdropping through the wall.
Arrange meals for three meals a day to suit everyone’s taste and satisfy everyone.
When you are full, you will naturally be satisfied with big fish and meat. When you are hungry, you should be satisfied with simple meals.
Relatives and friends should be treated warmly when they meet, and the food for the elderly and children should be different from your own.
Concubines and maids should manage the housework well and serve their masters respectfully and wholeheartedly.
The silk fan is as white and round as the full moon, and the silver candlesticks are brightly lit.
Having a nap during the day and sleeping at night, there are bamboo mats made of green strips and beds with carved ivory screens.
Playing music, singing songs, setting out wine for a banquet, taking the wine glass, and drinking happily.
I can’t help but dance, I am really happy and healthy.
As descendants inherit the inheritance of their ancestors, they must not forget the sacrificial ceremonies throughout the year.
Kneel down and kowtow, and pray again and again. The etiquette must be thorough and respectful, and the mood must be sad and pious.
Be concise and to the point when writing to others, and be detailed and thoughtful when answering other people's questions.
When there is dirt on your body, you want to take a bath, just like holding something hot in your hand and hoping for the wind to cool it down.
When there is a disaster at home, even the livestock will be frightened, jumping wildly, and running around.
Those who rob, steal, rebel, and flee must be severely punished. Those who deserve to be caught will be caught, and those who deserve to be killed will be killed.
Lu Bu is good at archery, Yi Liao has the unique skill of making pills, Ji Kang is good at playing the piano, and Ruan Ji can sing loudly.
Meng Tian invented the writing brush, Cai Lun invented paper making, Ma Jun skillfully made the waterwheel, and Ren Gongzi fished for big fish.
Some of their skills resolve disputes, and some facilitate the masses. They are all clever and ingenious and are praised by others.
Mao Qiang and Xi Shi are young and beautiful, even if they frown, they still look like smiling.
It is a pity that youth is fleeting and time makes people grow old in a hurry. Only the brilliance of the sun will always shine.
The high-hanging Beidou rotates with the changes of the seasons, and the bright moonlight shines across every corner of the world.
Only by doing good deeds and accumulating virtue can your spirit last forever, just like the passing of the fire. The health of your descendants depends on the auspicious advice you leave behind.
Only with such a calm heart can we hold our heads high and step forward to cope with the important tasks entrusted by the court.
With such a worthy life, you can dress up and look forward solemnly and calmly.
If you are ignorant and ignorant, you will not understand these principles, and you can only live in vain and make people laugh like the ignorant people.
After compiling the "Thousand-Character Essay", all my hair turned white, and in the end I was left with the modal particles "Yan, Zai, Hu, Ye".
Introduction to the work
"The Thousand Character Essay" was compiled by Zhou Xingsi, a Sanqi minister in the Liang Dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and composed of a thousand Chinese characters (before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it did not rhyme , non-compatible writing is called "pen", not "wen"). Emperor Wu of Liang ordered people to select a thousand non-repeating Chinese characters from Wang Youjun's calligraphy works, and ordered Zhou Xingsi, the minister of Waisanqi, to compile it into a document. The full text is a four-character sentence, with neat contrasts, clear organization, and brilliant literary talent. "The Thousand-Character Classic" has simple sentences and is easy to recite and remember. It is a children's enlightenment book with great influence in China.
Appreciation of the work
The "Explanation of the Thousand-Character Essay" compiled by Wang Xiaoyin and annotated by Sun Qianyi divided "The Thousand-Character Essay" into four parts, which they called four chapters.
Starting from the first sentence "Heaven and Earth are dark and yellow" to the thirty-sixth sentence "It reaches all directions" is the first part;
From the thirty-seventh sentence "Cover this body The second part begins with "Fa" and ends with the 102nd sentence "Hao Jue Zi Lian";
It starts with the 103rd sentence "Capital Huaxia" and ends with the 162nd sentence "Yanxiu Yaoming" is the third part;
Starting from the 163rd sentence "Treat the root cause of agriculture" to the 248th sentence "Foolish men and others are criticizing" is the fourth part .
There are two sentences at the end: "The predicate helps, so is it". They have no special meaning, so they are listed separately.
The first part of "The Thousand Character Essay" starts with the creation of heaven and earth. With the heaven and earth, there are the sun, moon, stars, clouds and rain, frost and fog, and the changes in the four seasons of cold and heat; there are also the gold and jade, iron tools (swords), treasures, fruits, vegetables, and rivers, lakes and seas that were born from the earth. Birds fly and fish swim; there are changes in people and times between heaven and earth. Here, "The Thousand Character Essay" tells the early history of mankind and the performance of the prosperous times of Shang Tang and Zhou Wu kings, which is what the article says: "Sitting in the court and asking questions, hanging down the bow to make peace. Love the Li head, and serve the Rong and Qiang." Far and near, we lead guests back to the king. The phoenix sings in the tree, and the white colt transforms into vegetation, reaching all directions."
The second part of "The Thousand Character Essay" focuses on the standards and principles of human cultivation, that is, self-cultivation. It pointed out that people should be filial to their parents, cherish the body passed down from their parents, "respectfully raise them, don't dare to damage them", be a good person, "know your mistakes and correct them", be trustworthy, maintain your innocence, establish a good image and credibility, "messengers can be overturned" , The desire of the instrument is difficult to measure. The ink is sad and the silk is dyed, and the poem is praising the lamb." This is what the following four sentences mean. Then the article gives an in-depth explanation of loyalty, filial piety, and people's speech and behavior, making friends, and keeping one's integrity.
The third part of "The Thousand Character Essay" talks about various issues related to governance. The first chapter of this chapter talks about the shape of the capital city and tries its best to describe the magnificence of the city. "The palaces are lush and the buildings are amazing."
The capital has gathered a wealth of classics and a large number of talents. "It not only gathers tomb classics, but also gathers elites." This is the second meaning of the third part, which focuses on describing the luxurious life of the upper class and their cultural and martial arts. This part finally describes the vastness of the country's territory and the beauty of the scenery: "The traces of Yu in nine states, the union of hundreds of counties and Qin... The vastness is far away, the mountains are endless, and the rocks are deep and dark."
The fourth part of "The Thousand-Character Essay" It mainly describes the tranquil pastoral life, praising those people who are willing to be lonely and not fettered by fame and fortune, and yearn for the warm human kindness among the people. Wang Xiaoyin and Sun Qianyi's "Interpretation of the Thousand Character Classic" believes that this part is about "the way a gentleman governs his family and conducts his life." Their view has some truth, but it seems far-fetched, so it is not adopted.
"The Thousand Character Essay" integrates all kinds of knowledge in content, and runs through the whole text with unified thoughts, clear context, and concise language. Its advantages were later absorbed by the Three Character Classic.
Creative background
Literacy textbooks dedicated to enlightenment have appeared in China very early. In the Qin Dynasty, there were "Cangjie Pian" and "Yanli Pian", and in the Han Dynasty there were Sima Xiangru's "Fan Jiang Pian", Jia Li's "Peng Xi Pian", Cai Yong's "Encouraging Learning Pian", Shi You's "Emergency Chapter", and the Three Kingdoms era include "Pi Cang", "Guang Cang", "Shi Xue Pian", etc. , among these works, only "Ji Jiu Zhang" had an impact on later generations, and the others had little impact. Although "Ji Jiu Zhang" is a more prominent primary school book after "Cang Jie Pian", due to various problems in its circulation, its authority was far less than before in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Some enlightenment readings that appeared during this period such as "Ting Ting" "Gao", "Xieyou" and the like, their readability is limited. It was against this background that "The Thousand Character Essay" came out.
During the Southern Dynasties, in order to teach calligraphy to the kings of Liang Dynasty, Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty, asked Yin Tieshi to draw out a thousand different characters from Wang Xizhi's works, each character on a piece of paper, and then put these in no order. The rubbings were given to Zhou Xingsi, who compiled them into rhymes with content. This is the "Thousand-Character Classic" that has been passed down to the 21st century for more than 1,400 years.
About the author
Zhou Xingsi (469-537), courtesy name Si Zuan, was born in Xiang, Chen County, and was born in Gushu, Jiangnan (now Dangtu, Anhui). He was a minister and historian of the Southern Dynasties, famous for his erudition and good literary skills. After Emperor Wu of Liang succeeded to the throne, Zhou Xingsi was appointed as the minister of the Ancheng Kingdom. Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty often asked him to write documents, such as "Bronze Table Inscription", "Gate Tang Jie", "Appreciation to Wei" and "Ciyun Wang Xi's Book", etc. Each memorial was appreciated, and he eventually served as a minister. He participated in the writing of more than 100 volumes of documents such as Emperor's Records, Emperor's Deeds, Notes on Daily Life, and Professional Etiquette. He also wrote ten volumes of collected works, among which "The Thousand-Character Essay" has been passed down through the ages. On July 15, the third year of Datong reign of Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty, Zhou Xingsi passed away. His contributions are recorded in "Liang Shu" and "Tang Shu Zhi".