“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·122》 佚名
佳人傅粉，
谁识白刃当前；
螳螂捕蝉，
岂知黄雀在后。
天欲祸人，
必先以微福骄之，
所以福来不必喜，
要看会受；
天欲福人，
必先以微祸儆之，
所以祸来不必忧，
要看会救。
A mantis stalking a cicada is not aware of
An oriole aiming at it from behind,
A man favoured by a beauty
Does not know there is a killing plan
Screened by the charming lady.
Heaven gives you a small piece of luck
To embolden you
Before giving you a serious disaster;
Do not necessarily be happy when luck comes,
The important thing is how you enjoy it.
Heaven gives you a small disaster
To admonish you before giving you great luck;
Do not necessarily be sad when a disaster comes,
The important thing is how you remedy it.
