《三字经》为古代启蒙教育的著名教材，自南宋以来，已有七百多年的历史。《三字经》是中华民族珍贵的文化遗产，它短小精悍、朗朗上口，千百年来，家喻户晓。其独特的思想价值和文化魅力为世人所公认，被历代中国人奉为经典并不断流传。它的核心思想包括了“仁，义，诚，敬，孝。”

《三字经》（一）

人之初，性本善。性相近，习相远。

苟不教，性乃迁。教之道，贵以专。

昔孟母，择邻处。子不学，断机杼。

窦燕山，有义方。教五子，名俱扬。

养不教，父之过。教不严，师之惰。

子不学，非所宜。幼不学，老何为？

玉不琢，不成器。人不学，不知义。

Three-Character Canon (I)

At the beginning of life,
Man is good in nature.
Human nature is alike,
Habits make them different.


For lack of communication,
The nature is in alteration;
And the nurture of the young,
Better be maintained for long.


Once Mencius' mother
Chose the best neighborhood for her son;
She cut the threads on the loom.


Another case is Dou Yanshan,
Who was wise in family education.
He raised his five sons,
And all of them were blessed with fame.


Rear children without instructing them,
And the father should be blamed;
Teach in a slack and lazy way,
And the teacher should be criticized.


If a pupil plays truant,
It proves to be improper.
If a child fails to learn,
What can he be when getting old?


Without being carved and polished,
A jade can't be a work of art.
If one does not learn,
He'll not know human virtues.