The original name of “Di Zi Gui” was “Xun Meng Wen”, which was written by Li Yuxiu, a scholar during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Its content adopts the sixth article of “Xue Er Pian” in “The Analects of Confucius” that “disciples should be filial at home, respectful to their elders outside, cautious and trustworthy, love all people, and be close to the benevolent, and if they have spare time, they should study literature”, and lists the rules and regulations that disciples should abide by at home, outside, in dealing with people, dealing with things, and studying. Later, it was revised and adapted by Jia Cunren of the Qing Dynasty and renamed “Di Zi Gui”. “Di Zi Gui” has a total of 360 sentences and 1,080 words, three words in one sentence, two or four sentences connected in meaning, rhyme, and catchy; the whole article first has a “general introduction”, and then is divided into seven parts: “filial at home, respectful to their elders outside, cautious, trustworthy, love all people, be close to the benevolent, and spare time to study literature”. When learning “Di Zi Gui”, most people will have a wrong understanding when they hear “disciple”, thinking who is learning it? Children learn it. In fact, this “disciple” does not refer to children, but to the students of saints and sages. Teacher Deng Weidong from Beijing Di Zi Gui Education and Training Center pointed out that the meaning of “disciple” should also keep pace with the times: at home, it refers to children; at school, it refers to students; at company, it refers to employees; at work, it refers to the next level; in society, it refers to citizens. Gui is also a pictographic character, with a “husband” on the left and a “see” on the right, which means the view of a real man. Of course, the view of a real man must follow the teachings of saints, that is, the truth of life, to do things and treat people.
《弟子规》原名《训蒙文》，为清朝康熙年间秀才李毓秀所作，其内容采用《论语》“学而篇”第六条“弟子，入则孝，出则弟，谨而信，泛爱众，而亲仁，行有余力，则以学文”的文义，列述弟子在家、出外、待人、接物与学习上应该恪守的守则规范。后经清朝贾存仁修订改编，并改名为《弟子规》。《弟子规》共有360句、1080个字，三字一句，两句或四句连意，合辙押韵，朗朗上口；全篇先为“总叙”，然后分为“入则孝、出则弟、谨、信、泛爱众、亲仁、余力学文”七个部分。学《弟子规》，一般的人听到“弟子”，他会有错误的认知，觉得是谁学的？小孩学的。其实这个“弟子”不是指小孩，弟子是指圣贤人的学生都叫弟子。北京弟子规教育培训中心邓卫东老师指出，“弟子”的意思也应该与时俱进：在家指孩子；在学校指学生；在公司指员工；在单位指下一级；在社会中，指公民。规也是会意字，左边一个“夫”，右边一个“见”，叫大丈夫的见解。当然大丈夫的见解一定是随顺圣贤教诲，也就是人生的真理，来做事、来处事待人。
《弟子规》（亲仁）
同是人，类不齐，流俗众，仁者希。
It is same for all people to be human beings,
But different people belong to different classes.
Most are common and ordinary
And only a few people are of benevolence in charitable activities.
果仁者，人多畏。言不讳，色不媚。
The genuinely benevolent people
Are held by many people in awe and veneration,
And neither covert in their words
Nor fawning on with a facial expression.
能亲仁，无限好，德日进，过日少。
To be friendly with those who are virtuous
Makes a man extremely nice.
With each passing day his virtues are increased
And his errors are getting less and less.
不亲仁，无限害，小人进，百事坏。
Being unfriendly with virtuous people
Will harm a man greatly;
Bad people will be close to him
And he can do nothing successfully.
见人善，即思齐，纵去远，以渐跻。
When you see a man of worth,
You should think of equaling him.
Then you can be gradually near the worth
Although you are now far behind him.
见人恶，即内省，有则改，无加警。
When you see a man of evil character,
You should turn inwards and examine yourself.
You should correct your mistakes if you have made any.
If you have not made any, you should be vigilant
and on guard against making mistakes.
