“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·120》 佚名
受享过分，
必生灾害之端；
举动异常，
每为不祥之兆。
救既败之事，
如驭临岩之马，
休轻加一鞭；
图垂成之功，
如挽上滩之舟，
莫稍停一棹。
窗前一片浮青映白，
悟入处，
尽是禅机；
阶下几点飞翠落红，
收拾来，
无非诗料。
Too much enjoyment brews a disaster,
Abnormal acts forebode something unlucky.
To accomplish things on the verge of success
Is like driving a boat upstream,
Do not spare even one oar;
To save things on the verge of failure
Is like controlling a horse
On the edge of a cliff,
Do not exert even one whip.
If you comprehend
A lake out of your window reflecting the sky,
It can lead you to an understanding of Buddhism;
If you notice
Several fallen leaves and flowers on your steps,
It can provide you with material for poetry.
