7 Parenting Lessons From Ancient China’s Three-Character Classic

The book distills Confucian teachings into short, rhythmic lines meant to guide children on their path to becoming virtuous and sensible adults.

In China, the Three Character Classic is a timeless moral guide for kids. Linda Zhao/The Epoch Times

In a world often driven by quick wins and personal gain, imagine a book more than 800 years old that insists that kindness is our birthright and that moral growth is our lifelong mission. “The Three Character Classic” (“San Zi Jing”), a gem of Chinese traditional culture, does just that. 

Likely penned by Song Dynasty scholar Wang Yinglin in the 13th century, this short, rhythmic textbook uses simple three-word lines to teach children not just facts but also how to be good people.