Thirteen Classics
Encyclopedia
The Thirteen Classics is a term for the group of thirteen classics of Confucian
tradition that became the basis for the Imperial Examination
s during the Song Dynasty
and have shaped much of East Asian culture and thought.
They are, in approximate order of composition:
, where the philosopher Zhuangzi
notes an apocryphal story of Confucius
telling Laozi
that he had studied "six classics - The Book of Songs, The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music
, The Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals." These six works were thus already considered classics by at least the 3rd century BC, although the Book of Music did not survive the chaos of the Qin Dynasty
's unification of China and was deemed lost during the Han Dynasty
. Records from the late Han and Three Kingdoms Period reference "seven classics", though they do not name them individually. By the Tang Dynasty
references to "nine classics" were common, though the nine works themselves vary depending on the source. By the Southern Song Dynasty, the number and specific books in the "thirteen classics" were universally established. The Thirteen Classics formed the texts used on the Imperial Examinations, and their 600,000+ characters (words) were generally required to be memorized in order to pass.
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
tradition that became the basis for the Imperial Examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s during the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
and have shaped much of East Asian culture and thought.
They are, in approximate order of composition:
- Book of Changes or I Ching (易經 Yìjīng)
- Book of History (書經 Shūjīng)
- Book of Songs (詩經 Shījīng)
- Rites of ZhouRites of ZhouThe Rites of Zhou , also known as Zhouguan, is one of three ancient ritual texts listed among the classics of Confucianism. It was later renamed Zhouli by Liu Xin to differentiate it from a chapter in the Classic of History which was also known as Zhouguan.Though tradition ascribed the text of the...
(周禮 Zhōulǐ), split from the Book of Rites - Ceremonies and Rites (儀禮 Yílǐ), split from the Book of Rites
- Book of Rites (禮記 Lǐjì)
- The Commentary of ZuoZuo ZhuanThe Zuo Zhuan , sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history and covers the period from 722 BCE to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period...
(左傳 Zuǒ Zhuàn) on the Spring and Autumn AnnalsSpring and Autumn AnnalsThe Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 722 BCE to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annalistic principles. The text is extremely concise and, if all the commentaries are excluded, about 16,000... - The Commentary of GongyangGongyang ZhuanThe Gōngyáng Zhuàn is a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals and one of the classic books of ancient Chinese history. It is believed to have been written by Zi-xia disciple Gongyang Gao of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
(公羊傳 Gōngyáng Zhuàn) on the Spring and Autumn Annals - The Commentary of GuliangGuliang ZhuanThe Gǔliáng Zhuàn is considered one of the classic books of ancient Chinese history. It is traditionally attributed to a writer with the surname of Guliang in the disciple tradition of Zi-xia , but versions of his name vary and there is no definitive way to date the text...
(穀梁傳 Gǔliáng Zhuàn) on the Spring and Autumn Annals - The Analects (論語 Lúnyǔ)
- Classic of Filial PietyXiao JingXiao Jing or Classic of Filial Piety is a Confucian classic treatise giving advice on filial piety; that is, how to behave towards a senior .-Authorship:...
(孝經 Xiàojīng) - EryaEryaThe Erya is the oldest extant Chinese dictionary or Chinese encyclopedia. Bernhard Karlgren concluded that "the major part of its glosses must reasonably date from" the 3rd century BC....
(爾雅 Ěryǎ) - MenciusMencius (book)The Mencius , commonly called the Mengzi, is a collection of anecdotes and conversations of the Confucian thinker and philosopher Mencius. The work dates from the second half of the 4th century BC. It was ranked as a Confucian classic and its status was elevated in Song Dynasty...
(孟子 Mèngzǐ)
History
The tradition of a defined group of "classics" in Chinese culture dates at least to the Warring States PeriodWarring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, where the philosopher Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period, a period corresponding to the philosophical summit of Chinese thought — the Hundred Schools of Thought, and is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name,...
notes an apocryphal story of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
telling Laozi
Laozi
Laozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
that he had studied "six classics - The Book of Songs, The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music
Classic of Music
The Classic of Music is sometimes referred to as the sixth "Chinese classic text". It was lost by the time of the Han Dynasty.A few traces remain and can be found in other ancient Chinese classics like Zuo Zhuan , Zhou li , and the Classic of Rites...
, The Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals." These six works were thus already considered classics by at least the 3rd century BC, although the Book of Music did not survive the chaos of the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
's unification of China and was deemed lost during the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. Records from the late Han and Three Kingdoms Period reference "seven classics", though they do not name them individually. By the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
references to "nine classics" were common, though the nine works themselves vary depending on the source. By the Southern Song Dynasty, the number and specific books in the "thirteen classics" were universally established. The Thirteen Classics formed the texts used on the Imperial Examinations, and their 600,000+ characters (words) were generally required to be memorized in order to pass.