The core of Confucianism is built upon the Five Classics (wujing) and Four Books (si shu). In imperial China, the Four Books and Five Classics served as the foundation for the civic examination and are regarded as the canon of Confucianism. The Book of Odes, Book of Documents, Book of Changes, Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals make up the Five Classics. The Great Learning, Mencius, the Analects, and the Doctrine of the Mean make up the Four Books. The Five Classics expanded into thirteen classics between the Han and the early Song. But in the early Song, academics returned to the original Five Classics. We’ll discuss the top 5 classics today.
1.Book of Records
The 58 chapters that make up The Book of Documents are a collection of stories from ancient China. The actions of the first sage-kings Yao and Shun are described in the Book of Documents. These stories have an impact on how a sage’s understanding develops.
2.Odes in the Book
The translations of the Book of Odes also include the terms Book of Songs and Book of Poetry. The 305 poems that make up The Book of Odes cover a wide range of topics, including love and marriage, challenges with agriculture, daily life, and war.
3.The Ritual Book
The Zhou dynasty’s social customs, administrative structure, and ceremonial behavior were all detailed in the Book of Rites. The Book of Rites, which is said to have been put together by Kongzi, serves as the basis for many ceremonial concepts that develop in later imperial China.
4.Chapter of Changes
A system of divination found in The Book of Changes is heavily based on the yin and yang concepts. The I Ching and Classic of Changes are other names for the Book of Changes. Some of the techniques employed in divination are still in use today.
5.Autumn and Spring Annals
The Spring and Autumn Annals, the longest of the Five Classics, is a historical account of the State of Lu. The Spring and Autumn Annals, in contrast to the Book of Documents, seem to have been written with annalistic intent.
