Di Zi Gui, translated as The Rules for Students or Standards for Being a Good Pupil was written during the Qing dynasty and emphasizes the basic requirements for being a good pupil and getting along with others. Although the book is directed at students and children, it applies to all people. It is written in three-character verses and contains the below seven sections.
Below are the first four lessons in a classical Chinese course on Dizigui. I will be releasing more lessons over the next few months covering all seven chapters of Dizigui.
Below is the text from the Outline and Chapter 1 with pinyin and English translation.
總敘
Zǒngxù
Outline
弟子規，聖人訓。
Dìzǐ guī, shèngrén xùn.
The Rules for Students are the Sage’s teachings.
首孝悌，次謹信。
Shǒu xiào tì, cì jǐn xìn.
First, be good to parents and loving to siblings. Next, be cautious and trustworthy.
汎愛眾，而親仁。
Fàn ài zhòng, ér qīn rén.
Love everyone and become close to the compassionate.
有餘力，則學文。
Yǒu yú lì, zé xué wén.
If there’s energy left over, then study books.
入則孝
Rù zé xiào
At Home, Be Good to Parents
父母呼，應勿緩。
Fùmǔ hū, yìng wù huǎn.
When parents call, don’t be slow to answer.
父母命，行勿懶。
Fùmǔ mìng, xíng wù lǎn.
When parents give an order, act, don’t be lazy.
父母教，須敬聽。
Fùmǔ jiào, xū jìng tīng.
When parents teach, one must listen respectfully.
父母責，須順承。
Fùmǔ zé, xū shùn chéng.
When parents reprimand, one must accept.
冬則溫，夏則清。
Dōng zé wēn, xià zé qīng.
In winter, keep parents warm; in summer, keep parents cool.
晨則省，昏則定。
Chén zé xǐng, hūn zé dìng.
In the morning, greet parents; in the evening, make sure parents are settled in.
出必告，反必面。
Chū bì gù, fǎn bì miàn.
When leaving one must tell one’s parents; when returning home, one must see one’s parents face to face.
居有常，業無變。
Jū yǒu cháng, yè wú biàn.
Lead a routine life; do not change careers.
事雖小，勿擅為。
Shì suī xiǎo, wù shàn wéi.
Though a matter may be small, don’t act arbitrarily.
苟擅為，子道虧。
Gǒu shàn wéi, zǐ dào kuī.
If one acts arbitrarily, the code that a son ought to follow gets damaged.
物雖小，勿私藏。
Wù suī xiǎo, wù sī cáng.
Though an object may be small, don’t selfishly hide it.
苟私藏，親心傷。
Gǒu sī cáng, qīn xīn shāng.
If one selfishly hides it, parents’ hearts will be hurt.
親所好，力為具。
Qīn sǔo hào, lì wèi jù.
What parents like, make an effort to possess.
親所惡，謹為去。
Qīn sǔo wù, jǐn wèi qù.
What parents despise, carefully get rid of.
身有傷，貽親憂。
Shēn yǒu shāng, yí qīn yōu.
Injury to one’s body brings parents worry.
德有傷，貽親羞。
Dé yǒu shāng, yí qīn xiū.
Injury to one’s character brings parents shame.
親愛我，孝何難。
Qīn ài wǒ, xiào hé nán.
When parents love me, it is easy to be good to parents.
親憎我，孝方賢。
Qīn zēng wǒ, xiào fāng xián.
When parents detest me, then it’s truly virtuous to be good to parents.
親有過，諌使更。
Qīn yǒu gùo, jiàn shǐ gēng.
When parents do wrong, urge them to change.
怡吾色，柔吾声。
Yí wú sè, róu wú shēng.
Make my expression pleasant, and soften my voice.
諌不入，悦复諌。
Jiàn bú rù, yuè fù jiàn.
If the counsel is not accepted, wait until they are happy then urge them again.
號泣随，撻無怨。
Háo qì suí, tà wú yuàn.
If still not accepted, wailing and weeping should follow; if they beat me, I won’t complain.
親有疾，藥先嘗。
Qīn yǒu jí, yào xiān cháng.
When parents fall ill, taste the medicine first.
晝夜侍，不離床。
Zhòu yè shì, bù lí chuáng.
Attend to them day and night, not leaving the bedside.
喪三年，常悲咽。
Sāng sān nián, cháng bēi yè.
Mourn for three years after parents have passed away, often sobbing sadly.
居處變，酒肉絕。
Jū chù biàn, jiǔ ròu jué.
The place of living should change, and alcohol and meat should be avoided.
喪盡禮，祭盡誠。
Sāng jìn lǐ, jì jìn chéng.
At the funeral there should be the utmost decorum; at the memorial services there should be the utmost sincerity.
事死者，如事生。
Shì sǐ zhe, rú shì shēng.
Serve the dead like serving the living.