“Zengguang Xianwen”. Also known as “Xishi Xianwen” and “Gujin Xianwen”, it is a Taoist children’s enlightenment book compiled in the Ming Dynasty of China. The title of the book was first seen in the opera “Mudanting” during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Based on this, it can be inferred that the book was written at the latest during the Wanli period. “Zengguang Xianwen” collects various Chinese maxims and proverbs from ancient times to the present. Later, after continuous additions by scholars in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was changed to its current form, called “Zengguang Xishi Xianwen”, commonly known as “Zengguang Xianwen”.
《增广贤文》。又名《昔时贤文》《古今贤文》，是中国明代时期编写的道家儿童启蒙书目。书名最早见之于明万历年间的戏曲《牡丹亭》，据此可推知此书最迟写成于万历年间。《增广贤文》集结中国从古到今的各种格言、谚语。后来，经过明、清两代文人的不断增补，才改成现在这个模样，称《增广昔时贤文》，通称《增广贤文》。
《增广贤文·119》 佚名
善有善报，
恶有恶报。
若有不报，
日子未到。
水不紧，
鱼不跳。
年年防饥，
夜夜防盗。
祸福无门，
惟人自召。
好义固为人包钦，
贪利乃为鬼所笑。
贤者不炫已之长，
君子不夺人所好。
Benevolence will be rewarded benevolently,,
Malevolence will be rewarded malevolently.
If you have not seen them rewarded,
It is because that
The opportunity has not yet arisen.
Fish do not jump when the water is not swift.
Guard against theft every night,
Guard against famine every year.
Disaster and fortune are uncontrollable,
They are the mere results of people’s deeds.
People appreciate
Those who boldly defend justice,
Even ghosts laugh at
Those who greedily struggle for profit.
A virtuous person
Does not show off what he is good at,
A gentleman
Does not grab others’ cherished things.
