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10 minutes of Oriental classics a day

The 25 books introduced here are considered great classics that are considered the most important in the approximately 3,000 years of Eastern history.
These are books that frequently appear in various tests and entrance exams, and are must-reads that you must read at least once in your life.
The great teachings of Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi, as well as representative Korean philosophers such as Yi Hwang, Park Ji-won, and Jeong Yak-yong, transcend time and continue to serve as a guide for our lives to come.

As the French philosopher Voltaire said, history does not repeat itself, but human actions do.
Because human psychology, thoughts, desires and emotions remain the same.
So, even though times change and lifestyles change, the concerns that humanity holds in its hearts do not change much.
Oriental classics are commentaries on these fundamental questions of life written by great figures who are called the teachers of humanity.


The 30 Oriental classics contained in this book are familiar classics that have had a great influence on our society and daily life.
These are great classics that represented their eras or changed the course of time, and they are also books that serve as indicators of life, giving us a weighty message even today.

--- From the "Preface"

Even during the Warring States period, which lasted for over 200 years, the continuous war left mountains of corpses, and the living starved or were separated from their families.
Perhaps it resembles our current situation, where we are forced into endless competition in the capitalist era.
Sometimes, when we are so exhausted physically and mentally that we reach our limit, we feel lethargic and dizzy.
And it asks the fundamental questions of life.
"Who am I? Where am I?" Confucius, who lived during the Spring and Autumn Period, asked the same question.
In a time when humans could not be human, and when living hard today could not guarantee a stable tomorrow, Confucius also asked the most fundamental question of life.
'How should we live to live a humane life?' Confucius's answer to that question is the Analects.

--- From Confucius, The Analects

'The Doctrine of the Mean' is not only the title of a book, but is also a common noun that refers to an attitude toward life and virtue.
It is a concept that is also treated as important in Western philosophy.
Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, mentions moderation as an important element of happiness.
He believed that all humans have impulses and desires, but that they must be controlled by reason to avoid going to extremes.
The passage that emphasizes the need to find a balance between deficiency and excess in order to live a moral life is exactly the Western version of too much is as bad as too little.

--- From "Zisa, The Doctrine of the Mean"

“Blue comes from indigo, but it is bluer than indigo; ice is made from frozen water, but it is colder than water.”
This is the first sentence of the "Xunzi" and the original text of the famous four-character idiom, "靑出於藍" (blue emerges from indigo).
The saying "the disciple is better than the teacher" is widely known as a metaphor for a student being better than the teacher, but that is only part of the meaning of the saying.
If you look at the original text, the phrase “learning cannot be stopped” appears before this sentence, so it would be correct to see the blue and ice as the result of continuous dedication to learning.
It means that we must pursue complete self-change and development through learning.
I believe that education plays a similar role for humans as a seemingly insignificant chrysalis completely transforms into a beautiful butterfly.

--- From "Sunja, 《Sunja》"

There are many contents in the 《Myeongsimbogam》 that are surprisingly accurate and still apply today.
“If you talk too much and make mistakes, it’s all because of alcohol. If you break loyalty and distance yourself from friends, it’s only because of money.” “Don’t employ suspicious people, and don’t be suspicious of those you’ve hired.” These sentences point out life wisdom that hasn’t changed since the past.
Su Dongpo warns those who dream of making a fortune overnight by buying lottery tickets every day or making excessive investments, saying, “If you gain a fortune without a reason, it will not bring great fortune, but great disaster.”
The power that has sustained the 《Myeongsimbogam》 for so long lies in its universal values ​​that transcend time.
--- From "Beomlipbon, 《Myeongsimbogam》"

Yi Sun-sin was someone's son, someone's father, and a subject of a nation who had to endure the weight of loneliness and responsibility.
《Nanjung Ilgi》 shows the process of how one person turns fear into courage.
We find comfort, hope, and teaching in Nanjung Ilgi.
Yi Sun-sin was not made a hero by someone else, but he became a hero himself through the record called “Nanjung Ilgi.”

--- From "Yi Sun-sin, Nanjung Ilgi"