Three Character Classics (三字经）

This week, we are focusing on the three paragraph of the Three Character Classics and it is rather timely as we have just completed our bible-study about "Parental Discipline" and now working on "Diligence" and this paragraph complement the bible-studies and our learning.

It is not easy for a 5years old to understand why we are really strict with him and why he needs to study and work on his practice books daily. But as parents, we have to instill in him self-discipline and good habits that will follow him the rest of his life. We make it a point to explain to him and also the Three Character Classics is a good source to use to teach him besides the bible.

And so far, we have seen him following his schedule for learning even though we still provide him alot of them out in the yard and also to play. We have shared with him that there is a time for everything and that we agreed that he needs time to play, relax and he also needs time to learn to enrich himself. And for a boy, he also has his share of being mischievous and playfulness. We have to remind ourselves that our job as parents is to instill in him the self-discipline and motivation to learn and at the same time provide him opportunity for growth in different areas.

We are taking time this week to focus on this paragraph and explaining and making sure that Kai understand the implication of this passage.






Click to see English Translation

It is not enough for the father to feed the family, he must also teach his children.
(It is not only the father's job to provide food, shelter and material needs for his family, it is more importantly for him to teach his children, it is the father's fault if they do not learnt.)

A teacher who does not teach severely and strictly is being lazy.
(A teacher has to instill discipline in the child and to teach with seriousness making sure the children learn, if he is laxed and the child does not learn, it is his laziness.)

It is not right and improper for a child not to learn and study.
(Opportunities must be given the child to learn and provide aid and help along the way to help the child in his learning journey. It is not right to let the child choose what he desires without proper instructions and training.)

If a child does not learn when he is young, what will become of him when he is old?
(Not teaching and training the child from young, the child will not be able to achieve his potentials and talents, he will not be useful to the society.)

The Three Character Classic 2 (三字经第二章）

We are looking at The Three Character Classic Paragraph 2 and I told Kai about a story about Mencius and his mother. And why Mencius' family shifted house three times to find a good and conducive environment for Mencius to learn and grow. His mother knew the environment and bad influence would cause Mencius to go astray. And
she remonstrated to him by using a knife to cut(ruin) a piece of cloth she was weaving to dramatize the effect of lack of diligence on studies could be disastrous in weaving a scholar.

And we also look at famous story about Dou YuJun (窦）and his five sons. The story told us how Dou taught his 5 sons and all of them has successful passed the Imperial Examination with flying colours. In the story, it talked about Dou's extreme severity in the conduct of his family life and his sons' education. He was very strict disciplinarian at home and he was very involved in the upbringing of his sons.






Click to see English Translation

The thoroughness extends to where one's family lives. (Environment affects the characters of a person, talk about the bad external influences.)

Lack of diligence in learning is as good as weaving with a broken thread.

A man Dou Yujun from the Swallow Mountains has the right and unique (unusual) way of teaching and training.

He raised and taught five sons who increased his family's reputation. (The 5 of them all passed the Imperial Examinations with flying colours and bring honour and glory to the family.)

The Three Character Classics

Instead of looking at the Chinese textbook and learning Hanyu Pinyin and Chinese rhymes and children's song. I started Kai on 三字经 （The Three Character Classics) and we learnt to recite it and Kai was curious about the meaning of each sentence.

We looked at the following passage,





Click for English Translation

Men at birth,
are morally good and pure.
Their natures and characters are similar;
as time passed by, their habits and characters become different.

Lack of teaching and being neglected,
people's nature and characters deteriorate.
The proper way to teach,
is with absolute concentration and utmost thoroughness.

After using simple words and ways to explain to Kai, he understood the meaning behind this passage and he learnt to recite it. When Daddy came back, he was able to recite to Daddy and told Daddy what this passage meant.

From this passage and from the bible, Kai understands the important of learning and the important of teaching and disciplining, we imposed on him. He also understands that there is a time for everything, time to pray and learn the bible, time to play, time to work, time to relax,etc.