Five Classics

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The Five Classics (traditional Chinese: 五經; pinyin: 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 by Confucius 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 is possibly the oldest Chinese narrative, and may date from the 6th century B.C. It includes examples of early Chinese prose.

Spring and Autumn Annals

The Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋 Chūn Qiū, also known as 麟經 Lín Jīng), a historical record of the state of Lu, Confucius's native state, from 1022 B.C. to 612 B.C. written (or edited) by Confucius, with implied condemnation of usurpations, murder, incest, etc.

Beyond the Five 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 Qin Dynasty. What remains now forms two of the Books in the Classic of Rites.

See also

• Four Books

External links

• Chinese Literature - alphabetical index at CHINAKNOWLEDGE - a universal guide for China studies