推介《弟子规》后,7月31日《星报》以〈‘
Work hard ‘and be filial’
〉为题报道:
“KUALA LUMPUR: Inspired by a book (Di Zi Gui)that draws on 3,000 years of wisdom and character-building, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting called on the young people of today to be hardworking and respect the elderly. ”
内文又说:
“The book, on the principles of character-building and living, contains a collection of teachings spanning 3,000 years and tells its readers to be dutiful to their parents as well as respectful and loving to their siblings. ”
同天,另一则题为〈
Di Zi Gui on sale here soon
〉的新闻也说:“WANITA MCA will be launching the book Di Zi Gui as part of its human capacity building project. The book on character building principles and living contains 3,000 years’ collection of teachings. ”
三处的描绘给读者的印象是:似乎《弟子规》为三千年前。实际上呢?有网站解释:
•••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。’的文义以三字一句,两句一韵编纂而成,分为五个部份加以演述;具体列举出为人子弟在家、出外、待人接物、求学应有的礼仪与规范,特别讲求家庭教育与生活教育。后经清朝贾存仁修订改编,并改名为〈弟子规〉,是启蒙养正,教育子弟敦伦尽份防邪存诚,养成忠厚家风的最佳读物。•••
查 中文维基百科 ,知道:清圣祖康熙,名爱新觉罗•玄烨于“十一年三月十八日(1654年5月4日)生于北京紫禁城景仁宫,佟妃之子。康熙六十一年十一月十三日(公元1722年12月20日)卒于北京畅春园清溪书屋。终年69岁。”
至于孔子,则是生于前551年,前479年离世。
换句话说,设想《弟子规》为 孔子 之说,那是大约2500年前的事;一旦确认那是李毓秀所作,至今最多不过352年;哪来的3,000 years?
