DI ZI GUI—THE TEACHINGS OF SAGES
The Chinese culture has been deeply influenced by Kong Zi, better known in the West as Confucius (551- 479 BCE), who was a great Chinese teacher and educator. When Zigong, a student of Kong Zi asked him, “Is there a word that one can hold permanently to one’s heart?” Kong Zi replied that “It is this word, Shu (forgiveness)—What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” Kong Zi believed that moral principles, virtues and discipline should be the very first lessons taught to a child, and that children need to practise them daily. It was most important to the ancient Chinese parents that their children learned moral principles and virtues before any other subjects so that the children will grow up able to discern the right action to be taken by a decent human being.
Originally named Inspiring Lessons for Children (Xùn Měng Wén 訓蒙文), Di Zi Gui was written by Li Yu Xiu during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi (116-1722) of Qing dynasty. Some of the contents came from another children’s guidebook entitled What Every Child Must Know (Tóng Méng Xū Zhī 童蒙須知) written by the Song dynasty scholar Zhu Xi (1130-1200). As the basis of organising this book, Mr. Li adopted the Analects, Book I, Chapter 6, where Kongzi said, “At home a good student and child is filial towards his parents; When away from home he practises fraternity. Next he is discreet and trustworthy, he loves all, and draws himself close to and learn from people of virtue and benevolence. With residual time, he studies and learns literature and art.” Later, another scholar named Jia Cun Ren edited the book and renamed the book Di Zi Gui, The Standards for Being a Good Student and Child 弟子規。