An updated version with corrections, IN UNICODE , send in by Mr.A.Klimenko Click Here
In around 1968, while rummaging through a pile of books in the basement of the library stake at the old library at U.Mass,Amherst,footnote 3 I came across a small manuscipt looking book with the title, The Trimetric Classic, translated by H.Giles. The book was dated 1910. It was a serendipitous find since I was looking for something else rather than Chinese literature texts. I borrowed the book home where I quickly copied down the text. My typing skill was bad and a few mistakes were made. Photocopying in those days was very expensive.(At US$ 25cents /page in 1968 money ! ). Recently someone on the CE-Bilingual Forum**] asked whether there is a translated version of ¤T¦r¸g Èý×Ö¾on the web. Unable to locate such a text on the web, I decided to type in the old copy that I had made from the Giles' text. When I looked at my old copy, I found there were a lot of typographical errors and missing punctuation marks. Well, I tried my best to reconstruct what I had and the result is presented below.
I would like to thank Hanying at CE-Bilingual Forum** for sending me the GB text which
allows me to cut my processing time down by 1/3 !
** New web address. This one can be access from China.
Big 5 version of the Chinese text is copied from ¤T¦r¸g Please see also footnote (2).
Please keep in mind this translation was done in 1910; the trimetric classic is different from the modern version (see Footnote.).
Some or all of the Chinese Characters may or may not show up in your browser.
The actual translated text is located in sections, starting at Text and Graphics
The graphics option gives the presentation as an image file.
May 5th 2004 : There is a rampant disregard for source reference by
people reprinting this to their sites.Some people even reprinted this in their BBS with the impression that they are the translators. Please acknowlege the source of your quotation and the fact that this
is the 1910 translation by Herbert Giles
| HOME | Chinese Page |
The following will be replaced by the corrected version.Meanwhile,please read the corrected version by using the link provided above.
| תÔØÕßÇë×¢Ã÷ ÊÇ Herbert Giles 1910 version | This is the Herbert Giles 1910 version |
| ¤T¦r¸g Èý×Ö¾ | Text appearing in parenthesis below are, I think, that of Giles' and not my own notes.
(?? etc ??) means I am not sure if my copy is correct. |
| תÔØÕßÇë˵³ö´¦ | http://www.openface.ca/~dstephen/trimetic.htm |
| ¤H¤§ªì¡@©Ê¥»µ½¡@©Ê¬Ûªñ¡@²ß¬Û»· ÈËÖ®³õ£¬ÐÔ±¾ÉÆ¡£ÐÔÏà½ü£¬Ï°ÏàÔ¶ | Men at their birth,
are naturally good. Their natures are much the same; their habits become widely different. |
| e¤£±Ð¡@©Ê¤D¾E¡@±Ð¤§¹D¡@¶Q¥H±M ¹¶²»½Ì£¬ÐÔÄËǨ¡£½ÌÖ®µÀ£¬¹óÒÔר | If follishly there is no teaching,
the nature will deteriorate. The right way in teaching, is to attach the utmost importance in thoroughness. |
| ©õ©s¥À¡@¾Ü¾F³B¡@¤l¤£¾Ç¡@Â_¾÷ªV ÎôÃÏĸ£¬ÔñÁÚ´¦¡£×Ó²»Ñ§£¬¶Ï»úèÌ | Of old, the mother of Mencius
chose a neighbourhood and when her child would not learn, she broke the shuttle from the loom. |
| Äu¿P¤s¡@¦³¸q¤è¡@±Ð¤¤l¡@¦WÑ´ ñ¼Ñàɽ£¬ÓÐÒå·½¡£½ÌÎå×Ó£¬Ãû¾ãÑï | Tou of the Swallow Hills
had the right method He taugh five son, each of whom raised the family reputation. |
| ¾i¤£±Ð¡@¤÷¤§¹L¡@±Ð¤£ÄY¡@®v¤§´k Ñø²»½Ì£¬¸¸Ö®¹ý¡£½Ì²»ÑÏ£¬Ê¦Ö®¶è | To feed without teaching,
is the father's fault. To teach without severity, is the teacher's laziness. |
| ¤l¤£¾Ç¡@«D©Ò©y¡@¥®¤£¾Ç¡@¦Ñ¦ó¬° ×Ó²»Ñ§£¬·ÇËùÒË¡£Óײ»Ñ§£¬ÀϺÎΪ | If the child does not learn,
this is not as it should be. If he does not learn while young, what will he be when old ? |
| ¥É¤£µZ¡@¤£¦¨¾¹¡@¤H¤£¾Ç¡@¤£ª¾¸q Óñ²»×Á£¬²»³ÉÆ÷¡£È˲»Ñ§£¬²»ÖªÒå | If jade is not polished,
it cannot become a thing of use. If a man does not learn, he cannot know his duty towards his neighbour. |
| תÔØÕßÇë×¢Ã÷³ö´¦ | http://www.openface.ca/~dstephen/trimetic.htm |
| This is the Herbert Giles 1910 version | תÔØÕßÇë×¢Ã÷ ³ö´¦ |
| ¬°¤H¤l¡@¤è¤Ö®É¡@¿Ë®v¤Í¡@²ß§»ö ΪÈË×Ó£¬·½ÉÙʱ¡£Ç×ʦÓÑ£¬Ï°ÀñÒÇ | He who is the son of a man,
when he is young, should attach himself to his teachers and friends; and practise ceremonial usages. |
| »¤EÄÖ¡@¯à·Å®u¡@§µ©ó¿Ë¡@©Ò·í°õ Ïã¾ÅÁ䣬ÄÜÎÂϯ¡£Ð¢ÓÚÇ×£¬Ëùµ±Ö´ | Hsiang, at nine years of age,
could warm (his parent's) bed. Filial piety towards parents, is that to which we should hold fast. |
| ¿Ä¥|·³¡@¯àÅý±ù¡@§Ì©óªø¡@©y¥ýª¾ ÈÚËÄË꣬ÄÜÈÃÀæ¡£µÜÓÚ³¤£¬ÒËÏÈÖª | Jung, at four years of age,
could yield the (bigger) pears. To hehave as a younger brother towards elders, is one of the first things to know. (Please note that the error previously showed up as : "Y") after the word "age" has been removed. People who quoted the older version of this page will have that "identifier" on it. |
| º§µ§Ì¡@¦¸¨£»D¡@ª¾¬Y¼Æ¡@ÃѬY¤å Ê×ТµÜ£¬´Î¼ûÎÅ¡£ÖªÄ³Êý£¬Ê¶Ä³ÎÄ | Begin with filial piety and fraternal love,
and then see and hear . Learn to count, and learn to read. |
| ¤@¦Ó¤Q¡@¤Q¦Ó¦Ê¡@¦Ê¦Ó¤d¡@¤d¦Ó¸U Ò»¶øÊ®£¬Ê®¶ø°Ù¡£°Ù¶øǧ£¬Ç§¶øÍò | units and tens,
then tens and hundreds, hundreds and thousands, thousands and then tens of thousands. |
| ¤T¤~ªÌ¡@¤Ñ¦a¤H¡@¤T¥úªÌ¡@¤é¤ë¬P Èý²ÅÕߣ¬ÌìµØÈË¡£Èý¹âÕߣ¬ÈÕÔÂÐÇ | The three forces,
are heaven, earth and man. The three luminaries, are the sun,the moon and the stars. |
| ¤TºõªÌ¡@§g¦Ú¸q¡@¤÷¤l¿Ë¡@¤Ò°ü¶¶ Èý¸ÙÕߣ¬¾ý³¼Òå¡£¸¸×ÓÇ×£¬·ò¸¾Ë³ | The three bonds,
are the obligation between soverign and subject, the love between father and child, the harmony between husband and wife. |
| ¤ê¬K®L¡@¤ê¬î¥V¡@¦¹¥|®É¡@¹B¤£½a Ô»´ºÏÄ£¬Ô»Çﶬ¡£´ËËÄʱ£¬Ô˲»Çî | We speak of spring and summer,
we speak of autumn and winter, These four seasons, revolve without ceasing. |
| ¤ê«n¥_¡@¤ê¦èªF¡@¦¹¥|¤è¡@À³¥G¤¤ Ô»Äϱ±£¬Ô»Î÷¶«¡£´ËËÄ·½£¬Ó¦ºõÖÐ | We speak of North and South,
we speak of East and West, These four points, respond to the requirements of the centre. |
| ¤ê¤õ¤ô¡@¤ìª÷¤g¡@¦¹¤¦æ¡@¥»¥G¼Æ Իˮ»ð£¬Ä¾½ðÍÁ¡£´ËÎåÐУ¬±¾ºõÊý | We speak of water, fire, wood,metal and earth. These five elements, have their origin in number. |
| ¤ê¤¯¸q¡@§´¼«H¡@¦¹¤±`¡@¤£®e¯¿ Ô»ÈÊÒ壬ÀñÖÇÐÅ¡£´ËÎå³££¬²»ÈÝÎÉ | We speak of chairty, of (??hear ??) and of duty towards one's neighbour ("??" an error in my original copy. I can't figure out what it is.)
of propriety, of wisdom, and of truth. These five virtues, admit of no compromise. |
| ½_¸dµà¡@³Á¶Á½^¡@¦¹¤»½\¡@¤H©Ò¹ µ¾Á»ÝÄ£¬ÂóÊò𢡣´ËÁù¹È£¬ÈËËùʳ | Rice , spike, millet, pulse
wheat, glutinous millet and common millet, These six grains, are those which men eat. |
| °¨¤û¦Ï¡@Âû¤ü¨¨¡@¦¹¤»¯b¡@¤H©Ò¹} ÂíÅ£Ñò£¬¼¦È®õ¹¡£´ËÁùÐó£¬ÈËËùËÇ | The horse, the ox, the sheep,
the fowl, the dog, the pig. These six animals, are those which men keep. |
| ¤ê³ß«ã¡@¤ê«sÄß¡@·R´c±ý¡@¤C±¡¨ã Իϲţ¬Ô»°§¾å¡£°®¶ñÓû£¬ÆßÇé¾ß | We speak of joy, of anger,
we speak of pity, of fear, of love , of hate and of desire. These are the seven passions. |
| °Ì¤g²¡@¤ì¥Ûª÷¡@»Pµ·¦Ë¡@¤D¤Kµ ÞËÍÁ¸ï£¬Ä¾Ê¯½ð¡£ÓëË¿Öñ£¬ÄË°ËÒô | The gound, earthenware,skin
wood, stone metal, silk and bamboo, yield the eight musical sounds. |
| °ª´¿¯ª¡@¤÷¦Ó¨¡@¨¦Ó¤l¡@¤l¦Ó®] ¸ßÔø×棬¸¸¶øÉí¡£Éí¶ø×Ó£¬×Ó¶øËï | Great great grandfather,great grandfather, grandfather,
father and self, self and son, son and grandson, |
| ¦Û¤l®]¡@¦Ü¥È´¿¡@¤D¤E±Ú¡@¤H¤§Û ×Ô×ÓËÖÁÔªÔø¡£Ä˾Å×壬ÈËÖ®Â× | from son and grandson,
on to great grandson and great great grandson. These are the nine agnates, constituting the kinships of man. |
| ¤÷¤l®¦¡@¤Ò°ü±q¡@¥S«h¤Í¡@§Ì«h®¥ ¸¸×Ó¶÷£¬·ò¸¾´Ó¡£ÐÖÔòÓÑ£¬µÜÔò¹§ |
Affection between father and child,
harmony between husband and wife, friendliness on the part of elder brothers, respectfulness on the part of younger brothers, |
| ªø¥®§Ç¡@¤Í»PªB¡@§g«h·q¡@¦Ú«h©¾ ³¤Ó×Ðò£¬ÓÑÓëÅó¡£¾ýÔò¾´£¬³¼ÔòÖÒ |
procedence(??) between elders and youngers, (probably : precedence )
as between friend and friend. Respect on the part of the sovereign, loyalty on the part of the subject. |
| ¦¹¤Q¸q¡@¤H©Ò¦P ´ËÊ®Ò壬ÈËËùͬ | These ten obligations,
are common to all men. |
| ¤Z°V»X¡@¶·Á¿¨s ¸Ô°Vµþ¡@¦W¥yŪ ·²ÑµÃÉ£¬Ðë½²¾¿¡£Ïêѵڬ£¬Ãû¾ä¶Á |
In the education of the young,
there should be explanation and eluciation, careful teaching of the interpretations of commentators, and due attention to paragraphs and sentences. |
| ¬°¾ÇªÌ¡@¥²¦³ªì ¤p¾Ç²× ¦Ü¥|®Ñ ΪѧÕߣ¬±ØÓгõ¡£Ð¡Ñ§ÖÕ£¬ÖÁËÄÊé | Those who are learners,
must have a beginning. The "little learning" finished, they proceed to the four books. |
| ½×»yªÌ¡@¤G¤Q½g ¸s§Ì¤l¡@°Oµ½¨¥ ÂÛÓïÕߣ¬¶þʮƪ¡£ÈºµÜ×Ó£¬¼ÇÉÆÑÔ | There is the Lun Yu (discourse or Analects),
in twenty sections. In this, the various disciples, have recorded the wise sayings of Confucious. |
| ©s¤lªÌ¡@¤C½g¤î¡@Á¿¹D¼w¡@»¡¤¯¸q ÃÏ×ÓÕߣ¬Æßƪֹ¡£½²µÀµÂ£¬ËµÈÊÒå | The works of Mencius,
have comprised in seven section. These explain the way and exemplifications thereof, and expound clarity and duty towards one's neighbour. |
| §@¤¤±e¡@¤l«äµ§¡@¤¤¤£°¾¡@±e¤£©ö ×÷ÖÐÓ¹£¬×Ó˼±Ê¡£Öв»Æ«£¬Ó¹²»Ò× | The Chung Yung (the doctrine of the mean),
by the pen of Tzu-su; Chung (the middle) being that which odes not lean towards any side, Yung( the course) being that which cannot be changed. |
| §@¤j¾Ç¡@¤D´¿¤l¡@¦Û×»ô¡@¦Ü¥ªv ×÷´óѧ£¬ÄËÔø×Ó¡£×ÔÐÞÆ룬ÖÁƽÖÎ | He who wrote the "Great Learning"
was the philosopher Tseng. Beginning with cultivation of the individual and ordering of the family, It goes on to government of one's own State and ordering of the family. |
| §µ¸g³q¡@¥|®Ñ¼ô¡@¦p¤»¸g¡@©l¥iŪ Т¾Í¨£¬ËÄÊéÊì¡£ÈçÁù¾£¬Ê¼¿É¶Á | When the "Classic of Filial Piety" is mastered,
and the "Four books" are known by heart. The next step is to the "Six classics", which may now be studied. |
| ¸Ö®Ñ©ö¡@§¬K¬î¡@¸¹¤»¸g¡@·íÁ¿¨D Ê«ÊéÒ×£¬Àñ´ºÇï¡£ºÅÁù¾£¬µ±½²Çó | The Books of Poetry, of History and of Changes.
The "Rites of Chou Dynasty, the book of Tites, and the "Spring and Autum Annals" are the six classics which should be carefully explained and analysed. |
| ¦³³s¤s¡@¦³ÂkÂá@¦³©P©ö¡@¤T©ö¸Ô ÓÐÁ¬É½£¬Óйé²Ø¡£ÓÐÖÜÒ×£¬ÈýÒ×Ïê | There is the Lien Shan System,
there is the Kuei Tsang And there is the system of Changes of the Chou Dynasty, such are the 3 systems which elucidate the changes. |
| ¦³¨åÂÓ¡@¦³°V»¢¡@¦³»}©R¡@®Ñ¤§¶ø ÓеäÚÓ£¬ÓÐѵھ¡£ÓÐÊÄÃü£¬ÊéÖ®°Â | There are the Regulations and the Counsels,
The Instruction, The Annoucements, The Oaths, The Charges, These are the profundities of the Book of History. |
| §Ú©P¤½¡@§@©P§¡@µÛ¤»©x ¦sªvÅé ÎÒÖܹ«£¬×÷ÖÜÀñ¡£ÖøÁù¹Ù£¬´æÖÎÌå | Our Duke of Chou,
drew up the Ritual of the Chou Dynasty, in which he set forth the duties of the six classes of officials; and thus gave a settled form to the government. |
| ¤j¤pÀ¹¡@ª`§°O¡@z¸t¨¥¡@§¼Ö³Æ ´óС´÷£¬×¢Àñ¼Ç¡£ÊöÊ¥ÑÔ£¬ÀñÀÖ±¸ | The Elder and the Younger Tai,
wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites. They publish the holy words, and Ceremonies and Music were set in order. |
| ¤ê°ê·¡@¤ê¶®¹|¡@¸¹¥|¸Ö¡@·í¿Øµú Ô»¹ú·ç£¬Ô»ÑÅËÌ¡£ºÅËÄÊ«£¬µ±·íÓ½ | We speak of the Kuo Feng,
we speak of the Ya and the Sung. These are the four sections of the Book of poetry, which should be hummed over and over. |
| ¸Ö¬J¤`¡@¬K¬î§@¡@´J½Ç¶S¡@§Oµ½´c Ê«¼ÈÍö£¬´ºÇï×÷¡£Ô¢°ý±á£¬±ðÉƶñ | When odes ceased to be made,
the Spring and Autumn Annals were produced. These Annals contain praise and blame, and distinguish the good from the bad. |
| ¤T¶ÇªÌ¡@¦³¤½¦Ï¡@¦³¥ª¤ó¡@¦³Ýb± Èý´«Õߣ¬Óй«Ñò¡£ÓÐ×óÊÏ£¬ÓÐì°Áº | The three commentaries upon the above,
include that of Kung-Yang, that of Tso and that of Ku-Liang. |
| ¸g¬J©ú¡@¤èŪ¤l¡@¼¼¨än¡@°O¨ä¨Æ ¾¼ÈÃ÷£¬·½¶Á×Ó¡£´éÆäÒª£¬¼ÇÆäÊ | When the classics were understood,
then the writings of the various philosophers should be read. Pick out the important points in each, and take a note of the facts. |
| ¤¤lªÌ¡@¦³¯û·¨¡@¤å¤¤¤l¡@¤Î¦Ñ²ø Îå×ÓÕߣ¬ÓÐÜ÷Ñî¡£ÎÄÖÐ×Ó£¬¼°ÀÏׯ | The five chielf phlosophers,
are Haun, Yang, Wen Chung Tzu Lao Tzu and Chung Tzu. |
| ¸g¤l³q¡@Ū½Ñ¥v¡@¦Ò¥@¨t¡@ª¾²×©l ¾×Óͨ£¬¶ÁÖîÊ·¡£¿¼ÊÀϵ£¬ÖªÖÕʼ | When the classics and the philosophers are mastered,
the various histories should then be read, and the genealogical connections should be examined, so that the end of one dynasty and the beginning of the next be known. |
| ¦Û¿ª¹A¡@¦Ü¶À«Ò¡@¸¹¤T¬Ó¡@©~¤W¥ ×ÔôËÅ©£¬ÖÁ»ÆµÛ¡£ºÅÈý»Ê£¬¾ÓÉÏÊÀ | From Fu Hsi and Shen Nung.
(??on ?? probably to or onto ) the Yellow Emperor, these are called the three rulers. who lived in the early ages. |
| 𦳸·¡@¸¹¤G«Ò¡@¬Û´¥»¹¡@ºÙ²±¥@ ÌÆÓÐÓÝ£¬ºÅ¶þµÛ¡£ÏàҾѷ£¬³ÆÊ¢ÊÀ | Tang and Yu-Yu
are called the two emperors. They adbicated, one after the other, and their was called the Golden Age. |
| ®L¦³¬ê¡@°Ó¦³´ö¡@©P¤åªZ¡@ºÙ¤T¤ ÏÄÓÐÓí£¬ÉÌÓÐÌÀ¡£ÖÜÎÄÍõ£¬³ÆÈýÍõ | The Hsia dynasty has Yu
and the Shang dynasty has T'ang' The Chou dynasty had Wen and Wu; these are called the Three Kings |
| ®L¶Ç¤l¡@®a¤Ñ¤U¡@¥|¦Ê¸ü¡@¾E®LªÀ ÏÄ´«×Ó£¬¼ÒÌìÏ¡£ËÄ°ÙÔØ£¬Ç¨ÏÄÉç | Under the Hsia dynasty the throne was transmitted from father to son,
making a family possession of the empire. After four hundred years, the imperial sacrifice passed from the house of Hsia. |
| ´ö¥ï®L¡@°ê¸¹°Ó¡@¤»¦Ê¸ü¡@¦Ü¬ô¤` ÌÀ·¥ÏÄ£¬¹úºÅÉÌ¡£Áù°ÙÔØ£¬ÖÁæûÍö | T'ang the completer destroyed the Hsia Dynasty,
and the Dynastic title became Shang. The line lasted for six hundred years, ending with Chou Hsin. |
| ©PªZ¤ý¡@©l¸Ý¬ô ¤K¦Ê¸ü¡@³Ìªø¤[ ÖÜÎäÍõ£¬Ê¼Öïæû¡£°Ë°ÙÔØ£¬×¾Ã | King Wu of the Chou Dynasty
finally slew Chou Hsin. His own line lasted for eight hundred years; the longest dynasty of all. |
| ©PÂáªF¡@¤ýºõ¼Z¡@³x¤z¤à¡@©|¹C»¡ ÖÜÕÞ¶«£¬Íõ¸Ù¶é¡£³Ñ¸É¸ê£¬ÉÐÓÎ˵ | When the Chous made tracks eastwards,
the feudal bond was slackened; the arbitrament of spear and shields prevailed; and peripatetic politicians were held in high esteem. |
| ©l¬K¬î¡@²×¾Ô°ê¡@¤ÅQ±j¡@¤C¶¯¥X ʼ´ºÇÖÕÕ½¹ú¡£Îå°ÔÇ¿£¬ÆßÐÛ³ö | This period began with the Spring and Autum Epoch
and ended with that of the Warring States. Next, the Five Chieftains domineered, and Seven Martial States came to the front. |
| ¾Æ¯³¤ó¡@©lݦ}¡@¶Ç¤G¥@¡@·¡º~ª§ ÙøÇØÊÏ£¬Ê¼¼æ²¢¡£´«¶þÊÀ£¬³þººÕù | Then the House of Chin, descended from the Ying clan,
finally united all the states under one sway. The thrown was transmitted to Erh Shih, upon which followed the struggle between the Ch'u and the Han states. |
| °ª¯ª¿³¡@º~·~«Ø¡@¦Ü§µ¥¡@¤ý²õ¿y ¸ß×æÐË£¬ººÒµ½¨¡£ÖÁТƽ£¬Íõç´Û | Then Kao Tsu arose,
and the House of Han was established. When we come to the reign of Hsiao P'ing, Wang Mang usurped the throne. |
| ¥úªZ¿³¡@¬°ªFº~¡@¥|¦Ê¦~¡@²×©óÄm ¹âÎäÐË£¬Îª¶«ºº¡£ËÄ°ÙÄ꣬ÖÕÓÚÏ× | Then Kuang Wu arose,
and founded the Eastern Han Dynasty. It lasted four hundred years, and ended with the Emperor Hsien. |
| ÃQ¸¾§d¡@ª§º~¹©¡@¸¹¤T°ê¡@¨´¨â®Ê κÊñÎ⣬Õùºº¶¦¡£ºÅÈý¹ú£¬ÆùÁ½½ú | Wei, Shu and Wu,
fought for the sovereignty of the Hans. They were called the Three Kingdoms, and existed until the two Chin Dynasties. |
| §º»ôÄ~¡@±ç³¯©Ó¡@¬°«n´Â¡@³£ª÷³® ËÎÆë¼Ì£¬Áº³Â³Ð¡£ÎªÄϳ¯£¬¶¼½ðÁê | Then followed the Sung and the Ch'i dynasties,
and after them the Liang and Ch'en dynasties These are the Southen dynasties, with their capital at Nanking. |
| ¥_¤¸ÃQ¡@¤ÀªF¦è¡@¦t¤å©P¡@¿³°ª»ô ±±ÔªÎº£¬·Ö¶«Î÷¡£ÓîÎÄÖÜ£¬Ð˸ßÆë | The northern dynasties are the Wei dynasty and the Yuan family
which split into Eastern and Western Wei. The Chou dynasty and the Yuwen family, with the Ch'i dynasty of the Kao family. |
| ¤¦Ü¶¦¡@¤@¤g¦t¡@¤£¦A¶Ç¡@¥¢²Îºü åÊÖÁË壬һÍÁÓî¡£²»ÔÙ´«£¬Ê§Í³Ð÷ | At length, under the Sui dynasty,
the empire was united under one ruler. The throne was not transmitted twice, succession to power being loast |
| 𰪯ª¡@°_¸q®v¡@°£¶¦¶Ã¡@³Ð°ê°ò ÌƸß×棬ÆðÒåʦ¡£³ýËåÂÒ£¬´´¹ú»ù | The first emperor of the T'ang dynasty
raised volunteer troops. He put an end to the disorder of the House of Sui, and established the foundation of his line. |
| ¤G¤Q¶Ç¡@¤T¦Ê¸ü¡@±ç·À¤§¡@°ê¤D§ï ¶þÊ®´«£¬Èý°ÙÔØ¡£ÁºÒåÖ®£¬¹úÄË¸Ä | Twenty times the thrown was transmitted,
in a period of 300 years. The Liang State destroyed it, and the dynastic title was changed. |
| ±çð®Ê ¤Îº~©P ºÙ¤¥N ¬Ò¦³¥Ñ ÁºÌƽú ¼°ººÖÜ ³ÆÎå´ú ½ÔÓÐÓÉ | The Liang, the T'ang, the Chin
the Han and the Chou are called the five dynasties, and there was a reason for the establishment of each. |
| ª¢§º¿³¡@¨ü©PÁI¡@¤Q¤K¶Ç¡@«n¥_²V Ñ×ËÎÐË£¬ÊÜÖÜìø¡£Ê®°Ë´«£¬Äϱ±»ì | Then the fire-led house of Sung arose,
and received the resignation of the house of Chou. Eighteen times the throne was transmitted, and then the north and the south were reunited. |
| ¿ñ»Pª÷¡@¬ÒºÙ«Ò¡ ÁÉÓÚ½ð£¬½Ô³ÆµÛ | *** |
| ¤Ó¯ª¿³¡@°ê¤j©ú¡@¸¹¬xªZ¡@³£ª÷³® Ì«×æÐË£¬¹ú´óÃ÷ ºÅºéÎ䣬¶¼½ðÁê | *** |
| ¤¦¨¯ª¡@¾E¿P¨Ê ¤Q¤»¥@¡@¦Ü±RºÕ åʳÉ×棬ǨÑྩ¡£Ê®ÁùÊÀ£¬ÖÁ³çìõ | *** |
| ìI¶Ã«á¡@±F¤º°R¡@Âô°fÅÜ¡@¯«¾¹²× ÑËÂҺ󣬿ÜÄÚÚ§ ´³Äæ±ä£¬ÉñÆ÷ÖÕ | See footnote (1) |
| ²M¶¶ªv¡@¾Ú¯«¨Ê¡@¦Ü¤Q¶Ç¡@«Å²Î»¹ Çå˳ÖΣ¬¾ÝÉñ¾©¡£ÖÁÊ®´«£¬Ðûͳѷ | *** |
| Á|Á`²Î¡@¦@©M¦¨¡@´_º~¤g¡@¥Á°ê¿³ ¾Ù×Üͳ£¬¹²ºÍ³É ¸´ººÍÁ£¬Ãñ¹úÐË | *** |
| ¤Ü¤G¥v¡@¥þ¦b¯÷¡@¸üªv¶Ã¡@ª¾¿³°I Ø¥¶þÊ·£¬È«ÔÚ×È¡£ÔØÖÎÂÒ£¬ÖªÐËË¥ | *** |
| ¤Q¤C¥v¡@¥þ¦b¯÷¡@¸üªv¶Ã¡@ª¾¿³°I footnote 2 | The Seventeen Dynastic Histories,
are all embraced in the above. They contain examples of good and bad government, whence may be learnt the principles of prosperity and decay. |
| Ū¥v®Ñ¡@¦Ò¹ê¿ý¡@³q¥j¤µ¡@Y¿Ë¥Ø ¶ÁÊ·Ê飬¿¼ÊµÂ¼¡£Í¨¹Å½ñ£¬ÈôÇ×Ä¿ | Ye who read history must study the Annals, whereby you will understand ancient and modern events, as though having seen them with your own eyes. |
| ¤f¦Ó»w¡@¤ß¦Ó±©¡@´Â©ó´µ¡@¤i©ó´µ ¿Ú¶øËУ¬ÐĶøΩ¡£³¯ÓÚ˹£¬Ï¦ÓÚ˹ | Recite them with the mouth,
and ponder over them in your hearts. Do this in the morning; do this in the evening. |
| ©õ¥ò¥§¡@®v¶µéÑ¡@¥j¸t½å¡@©|¶Ô¾Ç ÎôÖÙÄᣬʦÏî¡õ¡£¹ÅÊ¥ÏÍ£¬ÉÐÇÚѧ | Of old, Confucius,
took Hsiang T'o for his teacher. The inspired men and sages of old, studied diligently nevertheless. |
| »¯¤¤¥O¡@Ū¾|½×¡@©¼¬J¥K¡@¾Ç¥B¶Ô ÕÔÖÐÁ¶Á³ÂÛ¡£±Ë¼ÈÊË£¬Ñ§ÇÒÇÚ | Chao, president of the Council,
studied the Lu Test of the Analects. He, when already an official, studied and moreover, with diligence. |
| ©Ü»Z½s¡@«d¦Ë²¡@©¼µL®Ñ¡@¥Bª¾«j ÅûÆѱ࣬Ï÷Öñ¼ò¡£±ËÎÞÊ飬ÇÒÖªÃã | One opened out rushes and plaited them together,
another scraped tablets of bamboo. These men had no books, but they knew how to make an effort. |
| ÀYÄa±ç¡@À@¨ëªÑ¡@©¼¤£±Ð¡@¦Û¶ÔW Í·ÐüÁº£¬×¶´Ì¹É¡£±Ë²»½Ì£¬×ÔÇÚ¿à | One tied his head to the beam above him;
another pricked his thigh with an awl. They were not taught, but toiled hard of their own accord. |
| ¦pÅn¿Ã¡@¦p¬M³·¡@®aÁö³h¡@¾Ç¤£½ù ÈçÄÒÓ©£¬Èçӳѩ¡£¼ÒËäƶ£¬Ñ§²»×º | Then we have one who put fireflies in a bag.
and again another who used the white glare from snow. Although their families were poor, these men studied uncessingly. |
| ¦ptÁ~¡@¦p±¾¨¤¡@¨Áö³Ò¡@µSW¨ô È縺н£¬Èç¹Ò½Ç¡£ÉíËäÀÍ£¬ÓÌ¿à׿ | Again, there was one who carried fuel,
and another who used horns and pegs. Although they toiled with their bodies, they were nevertheless remarkable for their application. |
| Ĭ¦Ñ¬u¡@¤G¤Q¤C¡@©lµo¼«¡@Ū®ÑÄy ËÕÀÏȪ£¬¶þÊ®Æß¡£Ê¼·¢·ß£¬¶ÁÊé¼® | Shu Lao-Chuan,
at the age of twenty-seven at last began to show his energy, and devote himself to the study of books. |
| ©¼¬J¦Ñ¡@µS®¬¿ð¡@º¸¤p¥Í¡@©y¦«ä ±Ë¼ÈÀÏ£¬Ó̻ڳ١£¶ûСÉú£¬ÒËÔç˼ | Then when already past the age,
he deeply regretted his delay. You little boys, should take thought betimes. (?? betimes???not sure !) |
| Y±çø¯¡@¤K¤Q¤G¡@¹ï¤j§Ê¡@»í¦h¤h ÈôÁº¡õ£¬°ËÊ®¶þ¡£¶Ô´óÍ¢£¬¿ý¶àÊ¿ | Then there were Liang Hao,
who at the age of eighty-two, made his replies to the great hall, and came out first among many scholars. |
| ©¼¬J¦¨¡@²³ºÙ²§¡@º¸¤p¥Í¡@©y¥ß§Ó ±Ë¼È³É£¬ÖÚ³ÆÒì¡£¶ûСÉú£¬ÒËÁ¢Ö¾ | When thus late he had succeeded,
all men pronounced him a prodigy. You little boys, should make up your minds to work. |
| ¼ü¤K·³¡@¯àµú¸Ö¡@ªc¤C·³¡@¯à½á´Ñ Ó¨°ËË꣬ÄÜӽʫ¡£ÃÚÆßË꣬Äܸ³¡õ | Jung at eight of age,
could compose poetry. Pi, at seven years of age, could make an epigram on wei-ch'.i |
| ©¼¿o®©¡@¤HºÙ©_¡@º¸¥®¾Ç¡@·í®Ä¤§ ±ËÓ±Îò£¬È˳ÆÆæ¡£¶ûÓ×ѧ£¬µ±Ð§Ö® | These youths were quick of apprehension,
and people declared them to be prodigies. You young learners, ought to imitate them. |
| ½²¤å®V¡@¯à¿ëµ^¡@Á¹Dó¥¡@¯àµú§u ²ÌÎļ§£¬ÄܱæÇÙ¡£Ð»µÀ¡õ£¬ÄÜÓ½Ò÷ | Ts'ai Wen-chi,
was able to judge from the sound of a psaltery. Hsieh Tao-yun, was able to compose verses. |
| ©¼¤k¤l¡@¥BÁo±Ó¡@º¸¨k¤l¡@·í¦Ûĵ ±ËÅ®×Ó£¬ÇÒ´ÏÃô¡£¶ûÄÐ×Ó£¬µ±×Ô¾¯ | They were only girls, yet they were quick and clever. You boys ought to rouse yourselves. |
| ð¼B®Ë¡@¤è¤C·³¡@Á|¯«µ£¡@§@¥¿¦r ÌÆÁõêÌ£¬·½ÆßËê¡£¾ÙÉñͯ£¬×÷Õý×Ö | Liu Yen of the Tang dynasty when only seven years of age, was ranked as an "inspired child" (child prodigy) and was appointed a Corrector of Texts. |
| ©¼Áö¥®¡@¨¤v¥K¡@º¸¥®¾Ç¡@«j¦ÓP ±ËËäÓ×£¬Éí¼ºÊË¡£¶ûÓ×ѧ£¬Ãã¶øÖ | He, although a child, was already in an official post. You young learners strive to bring about a like result. |
| ¦³¬°ªÌ¡@¥çY¬O ÓÐΪÕߣ¬ÒàÈôÊÇ | Those who work, will also succeed as he did. |
| ¤ü¦u©]¡@Âû¥q±á¡@e¤£¾Ç¡@¬T¬°¤H È®ÊØÒ¹£¬¼¦Ë¾³¿¡£¹¶²»Ñ§£¬êÂΪÈË | The dog keep guard by night;
the cock proclaims the dawn. If foolishly you do not study, how can you become men ? |
| Åú¦Rµ·¡@¸ÁÆC»e¡@¤H¤£¾Ç¡@¤£¦pª« ²ÏÍÂË¿£¬·äÄðÃÛ¡£È˲»Ñ§£¬²»ÈçÎï | The silkworm produced silk,
the bee makes honey. If man does not learn, he is not equal to the brutes |
| ¥®¦Ó¾Ç¡@§§¦Ó¦æ ¤WP§g¡@¤U¿A¥Á Ó׶øѧ£¬×³¶øÐС£ÉÏÖ¾ý£¬ÏÂÔóÃñ | Learn while young,
and when grown up apply what you have learn; influencing the soverign above, benefitting the people below. |
| ´¦WÁn¡@Åã¤÷¥À¡@¥ú©ó«e¡@¸Î©ó«á ÑïÃûÉù£¬ÏÔ¸¸Ä¸¡£¹âÓÚÇ°£¬Ô£ÓÚºó | Make a name for yourselves,
and glority you father and mother. shed lustre on your ancestors, enrich your posterity. |
| ¤H¿ò¤l¡@ª÷º¡¾Æ¡@§Ú±Ð¤l¡@±©¤@¸g ÈËÒÅ×Ó£¬½ðÂúÙø¡£ÎÒ½Ì×Ó£¬Î©Ò»¾ | Men bequeath to their children,
coffers of gold. I teach you children, only this book. |
| ¶Ô¦³¥\¡@À¸µL¯q¡@§Ù¤§«v¡@©y«j¤O ÇÚÓй¦£¬Ï·ÎÞÒæ¡£½äÖ®ÔÕ£¬ÒËÃãÁ¦ | Diligence has its reward;
play has no advantages, Oh, be on your guard, and put forth your strength. |
Go back to the starting point of the text
(1) Giles' book was dated 1910. Since only 17 dynasties were mentioned, Giles must have been working with an older version of the Trimetric . Go back to the text where footnote1 was originated from
Update The following is downloaded from a site of Chinese classic collections which should explain why Giles' version has several missing lines. His version is probably the " Sung " version.
´Ë¶ÎΪËΰæËùÎÞ,
¡¾¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¿ ¼û×¢ÊÍ.
¡¾¡¡Ì«×æÐË¡¡¹ú´óÃ÷¡¡ºÅºéÎä¡¡¶¼½ðÁê¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡åʳÉ×桡ǨÑྩ¡¡Ê®ÁùÊÀ¡¡ÖÁ³çìõ¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡ÑËÂÒáá¡¡¿ÜÄÚÚ§¡¡´³Äæ±ä¡¡ÉñÆ÷ÖÕ¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡Çå˳ÖΡ¡¾ÝÉñ¾©¡¡ÖÁÊ®´«¡¡Ðûͳѷ¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡¾Ù×Üͳ¡¡¹²ºÍ³É¡¡¸´ººÍÁ¡¡Ãñ¹úÐË¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¿
¡¾¡¡Ø¥¶þÊ·¡¡È«ÔÚ×È¡¡ÔØÖÎÂÒ¡¡ÖªÐËË¥¡¡¡¿
ÒÔÉÏÔÀ´×Ô¼òÌå×Ö֮תÒë, ³õÊäÈëÕß²»Ïê, ±§Ç¸. ´ËУ¶Ô°æÖ®²Î¿¼±¾,
ÄËÓÉÔªÖǹ¤Ñ§ÔºÖ®ÂÞ·ïÖé½ÌÊÚÓ°Ó¡×ÔÖÐÎÄ´ó´ÇµäµÚ¶þÁãÁùÒ³. ¸ù¾ÝÆä
×¢, ´Ë¾ÊÀ´«ËÎÍõÓ¦÷ë׫. áῼ֤ÈÏΪӦÊÇËÎÄ©, ÇøÊÊ×Ó׫ (×ÖÕýÊå,
¹ã¶«ÄϺ£ÈË). Ã÷, ÀèÕê, ÓÖÔö¹ãÖ®.
ÖÐÎÄ´ó´ÇµäÄÚ´ó¸ÅÖ»ÔØËΰæ, Óë´Ë´¦ËùµÃÖ®Ô¼òÌå×Ö°æÓеã³öÈë. ÔÚ ±¾ÎÄÖÐÒѱêʾ.
µ¥Î¬Õà 1994, 5, 3. ----
¡¼ÐÂÓïË¿µç×ÓÎÄ¿â(www.xys.org)¡½
(2) The Big5 version that I downloaded has both the line " 21 dynasties histories " followed by the line " 17 dynastic histories " . It could have been left there to show that two versions exist.
back to the text at " 21 Dynastic Histories "
(3) I have made an on-line search of the U.Mass library recently but cannot locate the book. I have a feeling that the book was lost or misplaced when the contents of the old library was moved to the new library in the early 1970s. However, a search of the famous Harvard library did turn up positive results.
Use Author search. Two editions of the book (1910, 1964)
are available in the Harvard library
Back to the source of footnote3
1. As mentioned earlier in the text above: Translation by Professor Louis E. Smogor Jr.of the Depauw Univ. U.S.A Circa 2000.
2. As brought to our attention by "smnall potato" at Han Ying (i) This page is copied-right by J.Lau. But I do not know if he is the author.
(i) http://www.bilinguist.com/data/hy04/messages/134891.html
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