NOTE FROM ZHU XI

《朱子示讀》

I want people first to read the Great Learning to set the framework [for the learning of the Way], next to read the Discourses to establish its foundation, next to read the Book of Mengzi to observe its stimulating development, and next to read the Doctrine of the Mean to seek the profound points of the ancients.

The Great Learning contains definite steps and an ordered sequence, all gathered in one place. It is easy to understand and so should be read first. The Discourses [of the School of Kong] are indeed substantial, but its sayings are scattered about. It is difficult at first reading. The Book of Mengzi has passages that stir and arouse the human mind. The Doctrine of the Mean is difficult, one should read it only after having read the other three books.

— Zhu Xi 朱熹, Yulei 14.A1

某要人先讀大學，以定其規模；次讀論語，以立其根本；次讀孟子，以觀其發越；次讀中庸，以求古人之微妙處。大學一篇有等級次第，總作一處，易曉，宜先看。論語卻實，但言語散見，初看亦難。孟子有感激興發人心處。中庸亦難讀，看三書後，方宜讀之。

The “Four Books with Collected Commentaries” was published in the year 1190 by Zhu Xi. Bound as individual books, it has no collection-level introduction, but rather there is a preface at the beginning of each of the books. To address this, we have included this popular quote from the author on the character of each book and the order of reading. The translation that follows reproduces Master Zhu’s publication in its entirety—all text and footnotes throughout the four books are his, without further editorial comment, addition, or subtraction. The one exception is that we have assigned verse titles for navigation purposes (in the app version), as the ancient text contains only chapter titles; these are drawn from representative characters within each verse.
Translation by Daoxue Academy, “The Great Learning with Commentary” (2025). Classical Chinese base text from Qing Dynasty 1811 edition (public domain due to age). Copyright © 2025 Daoxue Academy.