- Five Classics
The Five Classics (zh-tp|t=五經|p=Wǔjīng) is a corpus of five ancient Chinese books used by
Confucianism as the basis of studies. According to tradition, they were compiled or edited byConfucius himself.Classic of Changes
The "Classic of Changes" or the Book of Changes (易經, Yi Jing), also known as the "I Ching".
Classic of Poetry
The "Classic of Poetry" or The Book of Odes (詩經, Shī Jīng), made up of 305 poems divided into 160 folk songs; 74 minor festal songs, traditionally sung at court festivities; 31 major festal songs, sung at more solemn court ceremonies; and 40 hymns and eulogies, sung at sacrifices to gods and ancestral spirits of the royal house. This book is traditionally credited as a compilation from Confucius.
Classic of Rites
The "
Classic of Rites " (禮記 Lǐ Jì), social forms and ceremonies (also spelled "Liki"), a restoration of the original Lijing, lost in the third century B.C., describes ancient rites and court ceremonies.Classic of History
The "
Classic of History " (書經 Shū Jīng) is a collection of documents and speeches alleged to have been written by rulers and officials of the early Zhou period and before. It contains examples of early Chinese prose.pring and Autumn Annals
The "
Spring and Autumn Annals " (春秋 Chūn Qiū, also known as 麟經 Lín Jīng), a historical record of thestate of Lu , Confucius's native state, from722 B.C. to479 B.C. written (or edited) byConfucius , with implied condemnation of usurpations, murder, incest, etc.Beyond the 5 Classics
The "
Classic of Music " (樂經, Yuè Jīng) is sometimes referred to as the sixth classic, but was lost by the time of the Han Dynasty. What remains now forms one of the Books in the "Classic of Rites ".ee also
*
Four Books External links
* http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/literature_alphabet.html
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