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…
When the ruler treats the elderly as the elderly should be treated, the people are aroused to family devotion. When the ruler treats those older as those older should be treated, the people are aroused to brotherly respect. (Daxue ch. 10)
上老老而民興孝，上長長而民興弟。
上老老而民興孝，上長長而民興弟。
January 12, 2026 at 10:09 AM
When the ruler treats the elderly as the elderly should be treated, the people are aroused to family devotion. When the ruler treats those older as those older should be treated, the people are aroused to brotherly respect. (Daxue ch. 10)
上老老而民興孝，上長長而民興弟。
上老老而民興孝，上長長而民興弟。
The Book of Odes says, “That peach tree, so young and lovely! How luxuriant is its foliage! This girl is going to her husband’s house. She will rightly order her household.” Let the household be rightly ordered, and then the people of the state may be taught. (Daxue ch. 9)
January 12, 2026 at 5:32 AM
The Book of Odes says, “That peach tree, so young and lovely! How luxuriant is its foliage! This girl is going to her husband’s house. She will rightly order her household.” Let the household be rightly ordered, and then the people of the state may be taught. (Daxue ch. 9)
The government of the state depends on the regulation of the family. (Daxue ch. 9)
治國在齊其家。
治國在齊其家。
January 11, 2026 at 10:52 PM
The government of the state depends on the regulation of the family. (Daxue ch. 9)
治國在齊其家。
治國在齊其家。
The ruler must have the good qualities in himself and then he may require them in others; he must not have the bad qualities in himself and then he may require that others not have them. (Daxue ch. 9)
君子有諸己而后求諸人，無諸己而后非諸人。
君子有諸己而后求諸人，無諸己而后非諸人。
January 11, 2026 at 9:31 AM
The ruler must have the good qualities in himself and then he may require them in others; he must not have the bad qualities in himself and then he may require that others not have them. (Daxue ch. 9)
君子有諸己而后求諸人，無諸己而后非諸人。
君子有諸己而后求諸人，無諸己而后非諸人。
Yao and Shun led all under heaven with humanity, and the people followed them. Jie and Zhou led all under heaven with violence, and the people followed them. When what they ordered contradicted what they themselves liked, the people did not follow. (Daxue ch. 9)
January 11, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Yao and Shun led all under heaven with humanity, and the people followed them. Jie and Zhou led all under heaven with violence, and the people followed them. When what they ordered contradicted what they themselves liked, the people did not follow. (Daxue ch. 9)
One word may ruin an affair and one person may set the state in order. (Daxue ch. 9)
一言僨事，一人定國。
一言僨事，一人定國。
January 11, 2026 at 2:18 AM
One word may ruin an affair and one person may set the state in order. (Daxue ch. 9)
一言僨事，一人定國。
一言僨事，一人定國。
We have our work cut out for us this year...
www.daoxue.academy/announcements
www.daoxue.academy/announcements
January 10, 2026 at 3:42 AM
We have our work cut out for us this year...
www.daoxue.academy/announcements
www.daoxue.academy/announcements
“The greed and perversity of one person incites disorder in the whole state.” One person refers to the ruler. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 9)
「一人貪戾，一國作亂。」...一人，謂君也。
「一人貪戾，一國作亂。」...一人，謂君也。
January 10, 2026 at 2:12 AM
“The greed and perversity of one person incites disorder in the whole state.” One person refers to the ruler. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 9)
「一人貪戾，一國作亂。」...一人，謂君也。
「一人貪戾，一國作亂。」...一人，謂君也。
The humaneness of one family arouses the humanity of the whole state; the courtesy of one family arouses the courtesy of the whole state; the greed and perversity of one person incites disorder in the whole state. Such are the inward springs of activity. (Daxue ch. 9)
January 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM
The humaneness of one family arouses the humanity of the whole state; the courtesy of one family arouses the courtesy of the whole state; the greed and perversity of one person incites disorder in the whole state. Such are the inward springs of activity. (Daxue ch. 9)
“The notes and supplements appended by Zhu Xi to the original text appear in nearly all the editions of the work, which fall into the hands of students, and his view of the classics is what must be regarded as the orthodox one.”
– James Legge, Great Learning (1861)
– James Legge, Great Learning (1861)
January 8, 2026 at 3:28 AM
“The notes and supplements appended by Zhu Xi to the original text appear in nearly all the editions of the work, which fall into the hands of students, and his view of the classics is what must be regarded as the orthodox one.”
– James Legge, Great Learning (1861)
– James Legge, Great Learning (1861)
“There has never been a girl who had to learn to care for a child before she marries.” This clarifies that the foundation of establishing education lies not in forced effort, but merely in recognizing its beginnings and extending them. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 9)
January 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
“There has never been a girl who had to learn to care for a child before she marries.” This clarifies that the foundation of establishing education lies not in forced effort, but merely in recognizing its beginnings and extending them. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 9)
If a mother sincerely seeks what the infant wants, though not hitting the mark exactly, she will not be far from it. There has never been a girl who had to learn to care for a child before she marries. (Daxue ch. 9)
心誠求之，雖不中不遠矣。未有學養子而后嫁者也！
心誠求之，雖不中不遠矣。未有學養子而后嫁者也！
January 7, 2026 at 7:06 AM
If a mother sincerely seeks what the infant wants, though not hitting the mark exactly, she will not be far from it. There has never been a girl who had to learn to care for a child before she marries. (Daxue ch. 9)
心誠求之，雖不中不遠矣。未有學養子而后嫁者也！
心誠求之，雖不中不遠矣。未有學養子而后嫁者也！
Family devotion is that with which one serves his ruler. Brotherly respect is that with which one serves his elders. Kindness is that with which one treats the multitude. (Daxue ch. 9)
孝者，所以事君也；弟者，所以事長也；慈者，所以使眾也。
孝者，所以事君也；弟者，所以事長也；慈者，所以使眾也。
January 7, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Family devotion is that with which one serves his ruler. Brotherly respect is that with which one serves his elders. Kindness is that with which one treats the multitude. (Daxue ch. 9)
孝者，所以事君也；弟者，所以事長也；慈者，所以使眾也。
孝者，所以事君也；弟者，所以事長也；慈者，所以使眾也。
Our “Encyclopedia Daoxue” added 58 new entries in the January update. Includes the Four Books, Five Classics, seven major regional states, and 30 named persons from this month’s reading. From each entry, you can check out verse references using modal sheets...then push to verse!
January 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Our “Encyclopedia Daoxue” added 58 new entries in the January update. Includes the Four Books, Five Classics, seven major regional states, and 30 named persons from this month’s reading. From each entry, you can check out verse references using modal sheets...then push to verse!
It is not possible for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family. Therefore the ruler without going beyond his family brings education to completion in the state. (Daxue ch. 9)
其家不可教而能教人者，無之。故君子不出家而成教於國。
其家不可教而能教人者，無之。故君子不出家而成教於國。
January 6, 2026 at 11:21 PM
It is not possible for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family. Therefore the ruler without going beyond his family brings education to completion in the state. (Daxue ch. 9)
其家不可教而能教人者，無之。故君子不出家而成教於國。
其家不可教而能教人者，無之。故君子不出家而成教於國。
Those who are taken with love are not clear-sighted, and those who are greedy are without satisfaction. This is the harm of partiality, and the reason why the family is not regulated. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
January 6, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Those who are taken with love are not clear-sighted, and those who are greedy are without satisfaction. This is the harm of partiality, and the reason why the family is not regulated. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
Those who are taken with love are not clear-sighted, and those who are greedy are without satisfaction. This is the harm of partiality, and the reason why the family is not regulated. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
January 6, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Those who are taken with love are not clear-sighted, and those who are greedy are without satisfaction. This is the harm of partiality, and the reason why the family is not regulated. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
溺愛者不明，貪得者無厭，是則偏之為害，而家之所以不齊也。
New Reading for January:
The Lunyu begins with Zhu Xi’s preface in two parts: 1) the history of Master Kong, which quotes the Records of the Historian, and 2) introductory quotes from He Yan and the Cheng Brothers.
(Four Books v1.1, live on the App Store)
The Lunyu begins with Zhu Xi’s preface in two parts: 1) the history of Master Kong, which quotes the Records of the Historian, and 2) introductory quotes from He Yan and the Cheng Brothers.
(Four Books v1.1, live on the App Store)
January 5, 2026 at 9:36 PM
New Reading for January:
The Lunyu begins with Zhu Xi’s preface in two parts: 1) the history of Master Kong, which quotes the Records of the Historian, and 2) introductory quotes from He Yan and the Cheng Brothers.
(Four Books v1.1, live on the App Store)
The Lunyu begins with Zhu Xi’s preface in two parts: 1) the history of Master Kong, which quotes the Records of the Historian, and 2) introductory quotes from He Yan and the Cheng Brothers.
(Four Books v1.1, live on the App Store)
The common saying goes, “People do not know the faults of their sons and do not know the fullness of their seedlings.” (Daxue ch. 8)
諺有之曰：「人莫知其子之惡，莫知其苗之碩。」
諺有之曰：「人莫知其子之惡，莫知其苗之碩。」
January 5, 2026 at 8:02 PM
The common saying goes, “People do not know the faults of their sons and do not know the fullness of their seedlings.” (Daxue ch. 8)
諺有之曰：「人莫知其子之惡，莫知其苗之碩。」
諺有之曰：「人莫知其子之惡，莫知其苗之碩。」
The feelings of ordinary people merely follow their inclinations without careful examination, thus they inevitably fall into partiality and fail to cultivate their persons. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
常人之情惟其所向而不加審焉，則必陷於一偏而身不修矣。
常人之情惟其所向而不加審焉，則必陷於一偏而身不修矣。
January 5, 2026 at 11:59 AM
The feelings of ordinary people merely follow their inclinations without careful examination, thus they inevitably fall into partiality and fail to cultivate their persons. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 8)
常人之情惟其所向而不加審焉，則必陷於一偏而身不修矣。
常人之情惟其所向而不加審焉，則必陷於一偏而身不修矣。
Those who love someone yet know their faults, or who dislike someone yet know their good qualities, are few in the world! (Daxue ch. 8)
好而知其惡，惡而知其美者，天下鮮矣！
好而知其惡，惡而知其美者，天下鮮矣！
January 4, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Those who love someone yet know their faults, or who dislike someone yet know their good qualities, are few in the world! (Daxue ch. 8)
好而知其惡，惡而知其美者，天下鮮矣！
好而知其惡，惡而知其美者，天下鮮矣！
When the mind is not present, we look but do not see, listen but do not hear, eat but do not know its taste. (Daxue ch. 7)
心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。
心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。
January 4, 2026 at 7:55 PM
When the mind is not present, we look but do not see, listen but do not hear, eat but do not know its taste. (Daxue ch. 7)
心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。
心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。
When the mind is affected by wrath, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by fear, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by fondness, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by worries, it will not attain its correctness. (Daxue ch. 7)
January 4, 2026 at 1:06 PM
When the mind is affected by wrath, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by fear, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by fondness, it will not attain its correctness. When affected by worries, it will not attain its correctness. (Daxue ch. 7)
Goodness that is real within manifests externally. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 6)
善之實於中而形於外者如此。
善之實於中而形於外者如此。
January 2, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Goodness that is real within manifests externally. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 6)
善之實於中而形於外者如此。
善之實於中而形於外者如此。
When the mind is without guilt or shame, then it becomes broad and tranquil, and the body is always relaxed and at ease. This is how virtue enriches the person. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 6)
心無愧怍，則廣大寬平，而體常舒泰，德之潤身者然也。
心無愧怍，則廣大寬平，而體常舒泰，德之潤身者然也。
January 2, 2026 at 5:44 AM
When the mind is without guilt or shame, then it becomes broad and tranquil, and the body is always relaxed and at ease. This is how virtue enriches the person. (Zhu Xi : Daxue ch. 6)
心無愧怍，則廣大寬平，而體常舒泰，德之潤身者然也。
心無愧怍，則廣大寬平，而體常舒泰，德之潤身者然也。