四书五经

四書五經

sìshū-wǔjīng

idiom #74,335

Meanings

1 the Four Books and Five Classics
2 core Confucian canon

Characters

Examples

古代读书人都要读四书五经。

Gǔdài dúshūrén dōu yào dú sìshūwǔjīng.

In ancient times every educated person had to study the Four Books and Five Classics.

科举考试主要考四书五经。

Kējǔ kǎoshì zhǔyào kǎo sìshūwǔjīng.

The imperial examinations were based mainly on the Four Books and Five Classics.

Tips

culture

四书: 《大学》《中庸》《论语》《孟子》. 五经: 《诗》《书》《礼》《易》《春秋》. Fixed as the Confucian curriculum by Zhu Xi 朱熹 in the Song dynasty; the core of the imperial civil service exam until 1905.

history

The term appears in Han-era commentary — Ban Gu's 《白虎通·五经》 lists the Five Classics; Zhu Xi's 《四书集注》 canonized the Four Books.

Stroke Order

四 sì

书 shū

五 wǔ

经 jīng