and due attention to paragraphs and sentences.

　　为学者 必有初 小学终 至四书

　　those who are learners,

　　must have a beginning.

　　the 'little learning' finished,

　　they proceed to the four books.

　　论语者 二十篇 群弟子 记善言

　　there is the lun yu (discourse or analects),

　　in twenty sections.

　　in this, the various disciples,

　　have recorded the wise sayings of confucious.

　　孟子者 七篇止 讲道德 说仁义

　　the works of mencius,

　　have comprised in seven section.

　　these explain the way and exemplifications thereof,

　　and expound clarity and duty towards one's neighbour.

　　作中庸 子思笔 中不偏 庸不易

　　the chung yung (the doctrine of the mean),

　　by the pen of tzu-su;

　　chung (the middle) being that which odes not lean toward! s any side,

　　yung( the course) being that which cannot be changed.

　　作大学 乃曾子 自修齐 至平治

　　he who wrote the 'great learning'

　　was the philosopher tseng.

　　beginning with cultivation of the individual and ordering of the family,

　　it goes on to government of one's own state and ordering of the family.

　　孝经通 四书熟 如六经 始可读

　　when the 'classic of filial piety' is mastered,

　　and the 'four books' are known by heart.

　　the next step is to the 'six classics',

　　which may now be studied.

　　诗书易 礼春秋 号六经 当讲求

　　the books of poetry, of history and of changes.

　　the 'rites of chou dynasty, the book of tites, and the 'spring and autum

　　annals'

　　are the six classics

　　which should be carefully explained and analysed.

　　有连山 有归藏 有周易 三易详