Pinyin Tianzige copybook of the Confucian classic "The Great Learning"


The way of a university lies in being virtuous, being close to the people, and striving for perfection. Knowing that there is stillness can lead to concentration; concentration can lead to tranquility; tranquility can lead to tranquility; tranquility can lead to worry; worry can lead to gain. Things have a beginning and an end, and things have an end and a beginning. If you know the order of things, you will be able to take the shortcut. In ancient times, if you want to bring enlightenment to the world, you must first govern your country; if you want to govern your country, you must first regulate your family; if you want to regulate your family, you must first cultivate your body; if you want to cultivate your body, you must first rectify your mind; if you want to rectify your family, you must first rectify your mind. To be sincere in one's mind, one must first be sincere in one's intentions; in order to be sincere in one's intentions, one must first gain knowledge; to gain knowledge is to examine things. After knowing things well, one will know; after knowing well, one will be sincere in one's mind; one's mind will be sincere, then one's mind will be upright; one's mind will be right, then one's body will be cultivated; one's body will be cultivated, and then one's family will be in order; one's family will be in order, and then the country will be governed; and if the country is governed, then the world will be peaceful. From the emperor to the common people, everything is based on self-cultivation. It is wrong to have chaos at the beginning but no governance at the end. What is thick is thin, and what is thin is thick, but it is not there! (through)


translation


The purpose of the university is to promote upright moral character, learn and apply it to life, and enable people to reach the most perfect state. Only when you know the state you should reach can you have firm ambitions; only if you have firm ambitions can you be calm and not impatient; only by being calm and not impatient can you have peace of mind; only by having peace of mind can you think carefully; only by thinking carefully can you gain something. Everything has roots and branches, everything has a beginning and an end. If you understand this fundamental truth, you will be close to the law of development of things.


In ancient times, those who wanted to promote upright moral character in the world must first govern their own country; if they wanted to govern their country well, they must first manage their own family and clan; if they wanted to manage their own family and clan well, they must first manage their own family and clan. Cultivate your own character; if you want to cultivate your own character, you must first correct your mind; if you want to correct your mind, you must first make your thoughts sincere; if you want to make your thoughts sincere, you must first explore the principles of things.


Wisdom can be gained by exploring the principles of things. Only by gaining wisdom can your thoughts be sincere; only by being sincere can your mind be correct; only by correcting your mind can you cultivate your character; only by cultivating your character can you manage your family and family well; only by managing your family and family well can you govern your country; and only after you govern your country well can the world be at peace. . From the head of state to the common people, everyone must cultivate character as the foundation. If this foundation is disturbed, it will be impossible to govern the family, family, country, and world well. It is also impossible to try to do things well without prioritizing the cart before the horse.