Daoxue Academy 道學學堂
@daoxue-academy.bsky.social
Study the Classics | Learn Classical Chinese. We are designers of classical studies apps for iOS. Daily posts from our Confucian quote repository.
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Daoxue Academy, Developer of the Four Books App for iOS.
Study the Classics | Learn Classical Chinese. Transmitting the Way by means of modern technology. Makers of the Four Books App for iOS.
www.daoxue.academy
A sage once said, “Are not the Classics the way by which to enter the Way?” We ask, are not apps the way by which to enter the Classics?
Introducing the Four Books App for iOS, live on the App Store…
Introducing the Four Books App for iOS, live on the App Store…
If we wish to extend our knowledge, we must investigate the principles of all things we come into contact with to their utmost, for the intelligent mind of man is certainly formed to know, and there is not a thing in the world in which its principles do not inhere. (Daxue ch. 5)
December 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
If we wish to extend our knowledge, we must investigate the principles of all things we come into contact with to their utmost, for the intelligent mind of man is certainly formed to know, and there is not a thing in the world in which its principles do not inhere. (Daxue ch. 5)
The sage can make those without truthfulness not dare finish their false or exaggerated words. For when one’s clear character is fully manifested, there is naturally (ziran 自然, so of itself) that which awes and subdues the people’s minds and will. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 4)
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 AM
The sage can make those without truthfulness not dare finish their false or exaggerated words. For when one’s clear character is fully manifested, there is naturally (ziran 自然, so of itself) that which awes and subdues the people’s minds and will. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 4)
Master Kong said, “In hearing litigations, I am like anyone else. What is necessary is to enable the people to be without litigations.” Those without truthfulness would dare not finish their words, and a great awe would be struck into the people’s minds. (Daxue ch. 4)
December 26, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Master Kong said, “In hearing litigations, I am like anyone else. What is necessary is to enable the people to be without litigations.” Those without truthfulness would dare not finish their words, and a great awe would be struck into the people’s minds. (Daxue ch. 4)
When ancient kings pass from the world, people think of them with admiration—the longer time passes, the more enduring their memory becomes. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 3)
...既沒世而人思慕之，愈久而不忘也。
...既沒世而人思慕之，愈久而不忘也。
December 26, 2025 at 5:45 AM
When ancient kings pass from the world, people think of them with admiration—the longer time passes, the more enduring their memory becomes. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 3)
...既沒世而人思慕之，愈久而不忘也。
...既沒世而人思慕之，愈久而不忘也。
The former kings renewed the people by abiding in the highest good (zhi shan 至善), enabling everything under heaven in later generations to find its proper place. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 3)
...前王所以新民者止於至善，能使天下後世無一物不得其所。
...前王所以新民者止於至善，能使天下後世無一物不得其所。
December 26, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The former kings renewed the people by abiding in the highest good (zhi shan 至善), enabling everything under heaven in later generations to find its proper place. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 3)
...前王所以新民者止於至善，能使天下後世無一物不得其所。
...前王所以新民者止於至善，能使天下後世無一物不得其所。
The Book of Odes says, “The twittering yellow bird rests in its nook on the mount.” Master Kong said, “When a bird rests, it knows where to rest. Can it be that a man is unequal to a bird?” (Daxue ch. 3)
December 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The Book of Odes says, “The twittering yellow bird rests in its nook on the mount.” Master Kong said, “When a bird rests, it knows where to rest. Can it be that a man is unequal to a bird?” (Daxue ch. 3)
The noble person in everything does his utmost. (Daxue ch. 2)
君子無所不用其極。
君子無所不用其極。
December 25, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The noble person in everything does his utmost. (Daxue ch. 2)
君子無所不用其極。
君子無所不用其極。
“Heaven’s clear Decree” is what Heaven gives to us and what constitutes our character. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 1)
天之明命，即天之所以與我，而我之所以為德者也。
天之明命，即天之所以與我，而我之所以為德者也。
December 25, 2025 at 5:35 AM
“Heaven’s clear Decree” is what Heaven gives to us and what constitutes our character. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 1)
天之明命，即天之所以與我，而我之所以為德者也。
天之明命，即天之所以與我，而我之所以為德者也。
There has never been a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order. It has never been [successful] when what is of great importance is slightly cared for and what is of slight importance is greatly cared for. (Daxue)
December 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
There has never been a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order. It has never been [successful] when what is of great importance is slightly cared for and what is of slight importance is greatly cared for. (Daxue)
From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all alike must take cultivation of the person as the root (ben 本, the foundation). (Daxue)
自天子以至於庶人,壹是皆以修身為本。
自天子以至於庶人,壹是皆以修身為本。
December 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all alike must take cultivation of the person as the root (ben 本, the foundation). (Daxue)
自天子以至於庶人,壹是皆以修身為本。
自天子以至於庶人,壹是皆以修身為本。
The “investigation of things” (wuge 物格) means that the ultimate points of the principles of things are fully reached. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
物格者，物理之極處無不到也。
物格者，物理之極處無不到也。
December 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
The “investigation of things” (wuge 物格) means that the ultimate points of the principles of things are fully reached. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
物格者，物理之極處無不到也。
物格者，物理之極處無不到也。
Once things are investigated then knowledge is perfected; once knowledge is perfected then the will is sincere; once the will is sincere then the mind is rectified; once the mind is rectified then the person is cultivated. (Daxue)
December 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Once things are investigated then knowledge is perfected; once knowledge is perfected then the will is sincere; once the will is sincere then the mind is rectified; once the mind is rectified then the person is cultivated. (Daxue)
The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. (Daxue)
致知在格物。
致知在格物。
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. (Daxue)
致知在格物。
致知在格物。
The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. (Daxue)
致知在格物。
致知在格物。
December 22, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. (Daxue)
致知在格物。
致知在格物。
Reposted by Daoxue Academy 道學學堂
replace "Fyodor Dostoevsky" with "Zhu Xi" and "Gaston or Pumbaa" with "Pan Jinlian and Scholar Zhang" and you have described the state of most modern sinology
One of my favorite things about conservative intellectuals is that they never have thoughts about Fyodor Dostoevsky but if you ask them about Gaston or Pumbaa it’s like ok buckle up
(L-R)
1. murder your brother & starve your tribe
2. be vain and jealous of your stepdaughter
3. look old & ugly when trying to murder your stepdaughter
4. lead a mob to murder your love interest's crush
1. murder your brother & starve your tribe
2. be vain and jealous of your stepdaughter
3. look old & ugly when trying to murder your stepdaughter
4. lead a mob to murder your love interest's crush
October 21, 2024 at 1:24 PM
replace "Fyodor Dostoevsky" with "Zhu Xi" and "Gaston or Pumbaa" with "Pan Jinlian and Scholar Zhang" and you have described the state of most modern sinology
The ancients who wished to regulate their families would first cultivate their own persons. Wishing to cultivate their own persons, they would first rectify their minds. Wishing to rectify their minds, they would first make their wills sincere. (Daxue)
December 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The ancients who wished to regulate their families would first cultivate their own persons. Wishing to cultivate their own persons, they would first rectify their minds. Wishing to rectify their minds, they would first make their wills sincere. (Daxue)
The ancients who wished to manifest the clear character of all under heaven would first bring order to their states. Wishing to bring order to their states, they would first regulate their families. (Daxue)
古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國；欲治其國者，先齊其家...
古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國；欲治其國者，先齊其家...
December 21, 2025 at 10:52 PM
The ancients who wished to manifest the clear character of all under heaven would first bring order to their states. Wishing to bring order to their states, they would first regulate their families. (Daxue)
古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國；欲治其國者，先齊其家...
古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國；欲治其國者，先齊其家...
Knowing what to abide in, one is settled. After being settled, one is able to be tranquil. After being tranquil, one is able to be at ease. After being at ease, one is able to deliberate. After deliberating, one is able to attain [what to abide in]. (Daxue)
December 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Knowing what to abide in, one is settled. After being settled, one is able to be tranquil. After being tranquil, one is able to be at ease. After being at ease, one is able to deliberate. After deliberating, one is able to attain [what to abide in]. (Daxue)
Mingde 明德, “the clear character,” is what man receives from Heaven—vacuous, intelligent, and unbeclouded, it contains all principles and responds to all affairs. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
明德者，人之所得乎天，而虛靈不昧，以具眾理而應萬事者也。
明德者，人之所得乎天，而虛靈不昧，以具眾理而應萬事者也。
December 21, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Mingde 明德, “the clear character,” is what man receives from Heaven—vacuous, intelligent, and unbeclouded, it contains all principles and responds to all affairs. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
明德者，人之所得乎天，而虛靈不昧，以具眾理而應萬事者也。
明德者，人之所得乎天，而虛靈不昧，以具眾理而應萬事者也。
Daxue 大學 (“Great Learning”) means education for the adult. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
大學者，大人之學也。
大學者，大人之學也。
December 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Daxue 大學 (“Great Learning”) means education for the adult. (Zhu Xi : Daxue)
大學者，大人之學也。
大學者，大人之學也。
The Way of Great Learning consists in manifesting the clear character, renewing the people, and abiding in the highest good. (Daxue)
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。
December 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Way of Great Learning consists in manifesting the clear character, renewing the people, and abiding in the highest good. (Daxue)
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。
Master Cheng Yi said, “The Great Learning is a surviving work of the School of Kong and is the gate through which the beginning student enters into virtue.” (Intro : Daxue)
子程子曰：「《大學》，孔氏之遺書，而初學入德之門也。」
子程子曰：「《大學》，孔氏之遺書，而初學入德之門也。」
December 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Master Cheng Yi said, “The Great Learning is a surviving work of the School of Kong and is the gate through which the beginning student enters into virtue.” (Intro : Daxue)
子程子曰：「《大學》，孔氏之遺書，而初學入德之門也。」
子程子曰：「《大學》，孔氏之遺書，而初學入德之門也。」
Considering that this book (the Great Learning) was somewhat scattered with missing sections, I have forgotten my limitations and gathered and rearranged it, occasionally venturing to append my own ideas to supplement what was lacking. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
顧其為書猶頗放失，是以忘其固陋，采而輯之，閒亦竊附己意，補其闕略。
顧其為書猶頗放失，是以忘其固陋，采而輯之，閒亦竊附己意，補其闕略。
December 18, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Considering that this book (the Great Learning) was somewhat scattered with missing sections, I have forgotten my limitations and gathered and rearranged it, occasionally venturing to append my own ideas to supplement what was lacking. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
顧其為書猶頗放失，是以忘其固陋，采而輯之，閒亦竊附己意，補其闕略。
顧其為書猶頗放失，是以忘其固陋，采而輯之，閒亦竊附己意，補其闕略。
The two Masters Cheng were the first to truly honor and believe in this work (the Great Learning) and to proclaim it. They then rearranged the order of its bamboo tablets and brought out its essential meaning. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
實始尊信此篇而表章之，既又為之次其簡編，發其歸趣。
實始尊信此篇而表章之，既又為之次其簡編，發其歸趣。
December 17, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The two Masters Cheng were the first to truly honor and believe in this work (the Great Learning) and to proclaim it. They then rearranged the order of its bamboo tablets and brought out its essential meaning. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
實始尊信此篇而表章之，既又為之次其簡編，發其歸趣。
實始尊信此篇而表章之，既又為之次其簡編，發其歸趣。
The virtue of the Song dynasty ascended and its government and education shone with excellence, whereupon the two Masters Cheng (Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao) from Henan appeared and were able to take up the transmission [of the Way] from Mengzi. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
宋德隆盛，治教休明。於是河南程氏兩夫子出，而有以接乎孟氏之傳。
宋德隆盛，治教休明。於是河南程氏兩夫子出，而有以接乎孟氏之傳。
December 17, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The virtue of the Song dynasty ascended and its government and education shone with excellence, whereupon the two Masters Cheng (Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao) from Henan appeared and were able to take up the transmission [of the Way] from Mengzi. (Zhu Xi preface : Daxue)
宋德隆盛，治教休明。於是河南程氏兩夫子出，而有以接乎孟氏之傳。
宋德隆盛，治教休明。於是河南程氏兩夫子出，而有以接乎孟氏之傳。