“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·124》 佚名
积产遗子孙，
子孙未必守；
积书遗子孙，
子孙未必读。
莫把真心空计校，
惟有大德享百福。
不作无益害有益，
不贵异物贱用物。
谁人不爱子孙贤？
谁人不爱千种粟？
奈五行不是这般题目。
Properties accumulated for descendants
May not be preserved by descendants,
Books accumulated for descendants
May not be read by descendants.
Only people of great morality
Can enjoy much fortune,
It is no use racking your brains for gain.
Do not overvalue rare gadgets
And ignore practical articles,
Do not engage in affairs of no good
And delay beneficial things.
All people hope
Their descendants will be virtuous and capable,
All people hope
They can accumulate plenty of grain,
But fate is not so obedient.
