The Three-Character Poem 三字經 2

For the first section of this poem, the citation, and an introduction to it, see Three-Character Poem 三字經.

香九齡

When [Huang] Shiang was nine years old,

能溫席

He would warm the bed.

孝於親

This respectful behavior towards family

所當執

Should be emulated by all.

融四歲

When [Kong] Rong was four years old,

能讓梨

He would give pears

弟於長

To his older brothers first.

宜先知

This is one of the first things the young ought to know.

首孝弟

The young should respect their elders;

次見聞

They should listen to them and watch them.

知某數

[And if] they want to understand numbers,

識某文

Their study should begin with these words.

一而十

[From] one to ten,

十而百

[From] ten to a hundred,

百而千

[From] a hundred to a thousand,

千而萬

[From] a thousand to ten thousand.

三才者

[There are] three "things":

天地人

Heaven, earth, and Man.

三光者

[There are] three "phenomena":

日月星

The sun, the moon, and the stars.

三綱者

[There are] three "relationships":

君臣義

 [That between] a ruler and his subjects,

父子親

[That between] a father and son,

夫婦順

And an cordiality between husband and wife.

曰春夏

It is said there is a spring and a summer,

曰秋冬

It is said there is an autumn and a winter,

此四時

These four seasons,

運不窮

Change ceaselessly.

曰南北

It is said that there is south and north,

曰西東

It is said that there is west and east,

此四方

These four directions

應乎中

Face the center.