Civilizational Canons · LC8

Education

Breaking aristocratic monopolies, selecting talent through merit and letters: a classical civil service selection network that sustained societal mobility for a millennium.

Education gathers classical writing on learning, teaching, academies, and the selection of talent. From Confucius in dialogue with his students and Xunzi's Encouragement to Learning to Han Yu's On Teachers and Explanation on the Advancement of Learning, these works trace traditions of study, instruction, and merit through letters.

Representative works

Zhou · Confucius · Pre-Qin MastersAnalects: Four Disciples Sitting with ConfuciusIn late spring, spring robes already made, with five or six young men and six or seven boys, to bathe in the Yi River, enjoy the breeze at the Rain Altar, and return home chanting verse. The Master sighed deeply and said: 'I am with Dian!'LR10105Zhou · Xunzi · Pre-Qin MastersXunzi: An Encouragement to LearningLearning must never cease. Indigo is extracted from the blue plant, yet is bluer than indigo; ice is made from water, yet is colder than water. If you carve and then give up, rotten wood will not break; if you carve without stopping, metal and stone can be engraved.LR10108Tang · Han Yu · Essays & MemorialsOn TeachersA teacher is one who transmits the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves perplexities. Pupils need not be inferior to teachers, and teachers need not be superior to pupils; some hear the Dao earlier than others, and specialties differ in craft—that is all.LR10072Tang · Han Yu · Essays & MemorialsExplanation on the Advancement of LearningMastery in scholarship thrives upon diligence and is ruined by frivolous play; moral conduct succeeds through independent contemplation and is destroyed by thoughtless conformity.LR10199

Read by dynasty

Zhou

1046–256 BCE13 works
  1. Analects: Four Disciples Sitting with ConfuciusConfucius · Pre-Qin MastersIn late spring, spring robes already made, with five or six young men and six or seven boys, to bathe in the Yi River, enjoy the breeze at the Rain Altar, and return home chanting verse. The Master sighed deeply and said: 'I am with Dian!'
  2. Xunzi: An Encouragement to LearningXunzi · Pre-Qin MastersLearning must never cease. Indigo is extracted from the blue plant, yet is bluer than indigo; ice is made from water, yet is colder than water. If you carve and then give up, rotten wood will not break; if you carve without stopping, metal and stone can be engraved.
  3. Book of Rites · The Great Learning (Excerpt)Anonymous · Pre-Qin MastersWishing to set their hearts right, they first made their intentions sincere; wishing to make their intentions sincere, they first extended their knowledge; and the extension of knowledge lies in investigating things.
  4. Mencius · Gaozi I (Excerpt)Mencius · Pre-Qin MastersOne day of sun and ten days of cold, and nothing will ever live.
  5. Analects · Gongye Chang (Excerpt)Disciples of Confucius · Pre-Qin MastersHe was quick and loved learning, and not ashamed to ask those beneath him; that is why he was called 'Wen'.
  6. Analects · Shu Er (Excerpt)Disciples of Confucius · Pre-Qin MastersStoring things up silently, learning without tiring, teaching without weariness.
  7. Hair Tied to the Beam, Awl to the ThighStrategies of the Warring States · IdiomsScholars tied their hair to a beam or jabbed their thighs to stay awake; studying with extreme diligence.
  8. Reviewing the Old to Learn the NewConfucius · IdiomsRevisiting what one has learned yields fresh understanding; also, learning from the past to grasp the present.
  9. Learning Enough to Fill Five CartsZhuangzi · IdiomsHaving read enough books to fill five carts; exceptionally erudite and widely read.
  10. Not Ashamed to Ask Those BelowConfucius · IdiomsUnashamed to learn from those of lower status or learning; humble eagerness to learn.
  11. Never Weary of LearningAnalects · IdiomsNever tiring of learning; always eager to learn more.
  12. Wholehearted ConcentrationMencius · IdiomsDevoting one's whole mind and attention to a task.
  13. One Day's Sun, Ten Days' ColdMencius · IdiomsOne day of sun followed by ten of cold; working in fits and starts without perseverance.

Han

202 BCE – 220 CE3 works
  1. Seek Truth from FactsBan Gu · IdiomsTo base conclusions on facts and seek the truth from reality.
  2. Clinging to the Broken and IncompleteLiu Xin · IdiomsClinging to fragmentary old texts; stubbornly conservative and resistant to change.
  3. Without Learning or SkillBan Gu · IdiomsHaving neither learning nor skill; ignorant and incompetent.

Three Kingdoms

220–2802 works
  1. Three Visits to the Thatched CottageZhuge Liang · IdiomsLiu Bei visited Zhuge Liang's cottage three times to recruit him; sincerely and repeatedly seeking out talent.
  2. Versed in Past and PresentKongzi Jiayu · IdiomsWell versed in both ancient and modern matters; broadly learned.

Jin

265–4207 works
  1. Records of the Three Kingdoms · Book of Wu · Biography of Lü Meng (Excerpt)Chen Shou · Historical NarrativeWhen a scholar has been away for three days, one should rub one's eyes and look at him anew.
  2. Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital: Kuang Heng Bores Through the WallGe Hong · Tales of the StrangeHe bored through the wall to draw in the light and read his books by its glow.
  3. Drawing a Cake to Satisfy HungerChen Shou · Satirical ParablesEmpty reputation solves nothing; judge people by their real ability.
  4. Boring Through the Wall to Borrow LightMiscellanies of the Western Capital · IdiomsToo poor for candles, Kuang Heng bored a hole to read by his neighbor's lamp; studying hard despite poverty.
  5. Not Seeking Thorough UnderstandingTao Yuanming · IdiomsOriginally reading for the gist without pedantry; now, studying superficially without seeking deep understanding.
  6. Never Letting the Book Leave One's HandChen Shou · IdiomsAlways with a book in hand; diligent and devoted to study.
  7. Seeing Someone in a New LightChen Shou · IdiomsViewing someone with fresh eyes after they have markedly improved.

Northern and Southern

420–5891 works
  1. A New Account of Tales of the World: Chanting of SnowLiu Yiqing · Tales of the StrangeWhat does this swirling white snow resemble? Scattering salt in the air is a rough comparison. Better to say willow catkins soaring upon the wind.

Tang

618–9079 works
  1. On TeachersHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsA teacher is one who transmits the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves perplexities. Pupils need not be inferior to teachers, and teachers need not be superior to pupils; some hear the Dao earlier than others, and specialties differ in craft—that is all.
  2. Explanation on the Advancement of LearningHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsMastery in scholarship thrives upon diligence and is ruined by frivolous play; moral conduct succeeds through independent contemplation and is destroyed by thoughtless conformity.
  3. Miscellaneous Discourses IV: On HorsesHan Yu · NotebooksOnly when the world has a Bo Le are there Thousand-League Steeds. Thousand-League Steeds are common, but a Bo Le is rare.
  4. Letter in Reply to Li YiHan Yu · Poetry TalksVital Spirit (Qi) is like water; words are like floating objects. When the flood of water is immense, floating objects large and small all float naturally. Such is the relation between Qi and words: when Qi is abundant, words short or long and tones high or low all find natural harmony.
  5. Letter to Governor Han of JingzhouLi Bai · Letters & PrefacesLi Bai hears scholars across the empire gather saying: 'One need not be ennobled with ten thousand households, if only one can make the acquaintance of Governor Han of Jingzhou!' How could men's reverence reach such lofty heights? Li Bai is a commoner from Longxi wandering across Chu and Han. At fifteen I loved swordsmanship and visited lords; at thirty my writings were mature, presented to chancellors and ministers.
  6. Letter to Wei Zhongli on the Way of the TeacherLiu Zongyuan · Letters & PrefacesIn Shu dogs bark at the sun; in Yue dogs bark at snow. Qu Yuan wrote: 'Town dogs bark in packs, barking at whatever they find strange.' Since my exile, people across the realm have regarded me as an anomaly—how dare I presume to be a master to others!
  7. After Passing the Imperial ExaminationMeng Jiao · Regulated QuatrainsProud in the spring breeze, my horse's hooves fly fast; in a single day I see all the flowers of Chang'an.
  8. Proud in the Spring BreezeMeng Jiao · IdiomsMeng Jiao's joy after passing the imperial exam; elated pride at success in career or life.
  9. Steeped by What One Sees and HearsHan Yu · IdiomsUnconsciously influenced by what one constantly hears and sees.

Song

960–12799 works
  1. Letter to Grand Commandant Han of the Bureau of Military AffairsSu Zhe · Letters & PrefacesWriting is the outward form of internal spirit. Writing cannot be mastered merely by study, but spiritual vitality can be cultivated through experience. Mencius said: 'I excel at nourishing my vast, noble spirit.' Viewing his prose, vast and profound, filling Heaven and Earth, it matches the stature of his spirit.
  2. Record of the Ink PoolZeng Gong · Travel WritingWang Xizhi's calligraphy only reached perfection in his late years; his supreme mastery was achieved through dedicated perseverance, not bestowed by Heaven. If later generations cannot match him because they seek shortcuts without diligence, how negligent they are!
  3. Falling Behind Sun ShanFan Gongcheng · Satirical ParablesDelivering bad news with tact lets the listener keep their dignity.
  4. Grinding an Iron Pestle into a NeedleZhu Mu · IdiomsAn old woman grinds an iron rod into a needle, inspiring young Li Bai; persistence achieves the impossible.
  5. Swallowing Dates WholeBai Ting · IdiomsAccepting or learning something wholesale without understanding it.
  6. Never Tired of RereadingSu Shi · IdiomsNever tiresome even after a hundred readings; praises writing of lasting appeal.
  7. Head and Shoulders Above OthersOuyang Xiu · IdiomsRising above others in talent or status; standing out from the crowd.
  8. Great Talent Put to Petty UseLu You · IdiomsUsing great timber for small purposes; wasting a talented person on minor work.
  9. Name Falls Below Sun ShanFan Gongcheng · IdiomsOne's name falls below Sun Shan, last on the list; a tactful way to say one failed an exam.

Yuan

1271–13681 works
  1. Swallowing Dates WholeBai Ting · Satirical ParablesTaking things in without chewing them over yields no real understanding.

Ming

1368–16442 works
  1. Preface Presenting to Student Ma of DongyangSong Lian · Letters & PrefacesIn youth I was passionately devoted to learning. Born poor with no means to buy books, I borrowed from book collectors, copying texts by hand and returning them punctually. In bitter freezing cold when inkwells froze solid and fingers could not bend, I never slackened in my toil.
  2. Making a Big Essay of a Small TopicAnonymous · Satirical ParablesTreating trivial matters as grave ones only adds needless burden.

Qing

1636–19128 works
  1. Anecdotes of Duke Zuo ZhongyiFang Bao · Historical NarrativeState affairs have deteriorated to such catastrophe; my old life is finished! If you recklessly risk your life and lose sight of the overarching cause, who will remain as the pillar to sustain the realm!
  2. On Borrowing Books for Student HuangYuan Mei · Essays & MemorialsBooks are rarely read unless borrowed! Have you not heard of book collectors? Stored away on lofty shelves in tied brocade cases, merely admired from afar. This is true not only of books, but of all things in the world.
  3. Record of the Sick Plum PavilionGong Zizhen · Essays & MemorialsPlums are deemed beautiful when twisted, for straight ones lack posture; beautiful when leaning, for upright ones lack dramatic vista; beautiful when sparse, for dense ones lack delicate form... I bought three hundred pots of crippled plums, freed them all, unloosed their cords, resolved to spend thirty years to restore their natural vitality.
  4. Poetic Remarks · Three Stages of Scholarly & Human EndeavorWang Guowei · Poetry TalksAll those through ancient and modern times who achieve great endeavors and grand scholarship must pass through Three Stages of Realm: First, 'Last night west winds withered green trees; climbing high towers alone, I gazed to the ends of the road'; Second, 'My robe grows loose day by day yet I have no regret, for her sake languishing into haggard sorrow'; Third, 'Seeking her in the crowd thousands of times, suddenly turning back, she stands right there where lantern lights are dim and waning.'
  5. Strange Tales · The Taoist of Mount LaoPu Songling · Qing Tales of WonderScholar Wang aspired to the Dao, ascending Mount Lao to study immortality, but unable to bear the toil of cutting firewood, he begged only for the art of walking through walls before returning home. Boasting to his wife, he charged headlong into the solid wall, falling backward with a swelling lump like an egg on his brow. The Chronicler sighs: 'How foolish is the vain charlatan!'
  6. Letter to Younger Brothers on Reading and AspirationZeng Guofan · Letters & PrefacesWhen scholars study, first they must have Aspiration (Zhi); second, Discernment (Shi); third, Perseverance (Heng). With aspiration, one refuses base mediocrity; with discernment, one recognizes learning is boundless and never grows complacent; with perseverance, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. None of these three can be lacking.
  7. Miscellaneous Poems of the Year Jihai (No. 125)Gong Zizhen · Regulated QuatrainsI urge the Lord of Heaven to rouse himself once more and send down talent without sticking to one mold.
  8. Not Bound by a Single PatternGong Zizhen · IdiomsNot confined to one standard or form; flexible and open, especially in choosing talent or creative methods.