This is passage on education from a 13th century Chinese encyclopedia called Shilin Guangji. Such encyclopedias, or "leishu", were intended for the general public who did not have the material means and the time to spend years of their life memorizing the classics and acquiring proper education. So instead of studying the classics for twenty five years, like the literati did preparing for office, they received their cultural heritage in an already pre-digested and popularized form. The part translated here is especially interesting because it talks about education and technology, a topic that is very much in the focus of our attention today. Despite the 800 years time difference, there is a certain parallel between the laments of the Chinese educator and some of today's concerns regarding the effect of Internet and multimedia applications in education. I used to blame myself for not learning when I was young, for being uneducated and having shallow knowledge. What a shame? Now I am old, useless to the world. But I do know that the mistake of not learning can also be amended. Once I saw how the students in the village all had adorned clothes and caps as were playing around on the market. Therefore I told them, when learned people talk among themselves, they talk about benevolence and propriety, when merchants talk about themselves, they talk about wealth and profit. At such a tender age, they neglect studying for pleasure. In ancient times, people did not care much for material wealth but greatly valued their time. That is, the gentleman must contest the fleeting time. Abandoning studying is a great pity! I have also heard of Han Yu's poem called "This day can indeed be lamented", hence is the "Ten laments" theory. - Written by Zhang Xianwu, Court Attendant Grand Master, native of Yanping

In ancient times, people were poor and could not support themselves. They carried the classics with them while hoeing, or recited the books while hauling firewood. Today, people eat plenty, dress warmly, and have abundant free time. This is the first lament. In ancient times, people did not feel it too far to come from a thousand li carrying their books on their back, looking for a teacher. Today, people have worthy fathers and elder brothers to teach them and yet they do not listen to those. Or they have a worthy teacher in the village and yet they do not know of his vicinity. This is the second lament. In ancient times, people copied manuscripts themselves, laboring day and night, and were constantly suffering from the lack of books. Today, people have ready-made printed books and store ten thousand fascicles piled up without ever reading them. This is the third lament. In ancient times, people spent three years learning a single classic. They were thirty by the time they established themselves in the five classics. From the time of their childhood their only goal was to study. Today, people have books at early age but do not read them. Meanwhile, the days and months are flashing by. This is the fourth lament. In ancient times, people read by gathering fireflies or under the light reflected from snow. Today, people can open up their scrolls near the light of the lantern, but they just happily engage themselves in pointless talk, and amuse themselves by playing chess. This is the fifth lament. There have been people who could not see the sun and the moon, who could not hear the sound of thunder. Students of our age are have clear eyesight and acute hearing, they all receive the instructions of wisdom. Yet, because they do not study, they know not where they going and they disregard proper conduct and the rituals. Truly, they are nearly the same as being deaf and blind. This is the sixth lament. When a man has a body, he has a register, when he has a register, he has duties. The students of our age have their parents to work for them or because of their family's long-standing merits are exempt from service. They have books but do not read them, being the same as the people outside the gates and on the fields. This is the seventh lament.

Ten laments A page from the Shilin Guangji People used to suffer because of their heritage, never hearing the sayings of the Book of Poetry and the Books of Rites, they either became farmers and gardeners or artisans and merchants. Today, people are born into Confucianist families and start to carry on their father's profession from an early age. They have books but do not read them, they simply continue their ancestors' venture. This is how far they go before they crash. This is the eighth lament. People used to suffer because there was no place they could retreat to and cultivate themselves. Today there are academies and local schools where they can pursue teachers. So they put on the Confucianist tall hat and wide clothes and parade around happily calling themselves "scholars". But in reality, they do not know a single classic, cannot compose a single poem; they are a disgrace to the sages of the past. This is the ninth lament. There used to be the great ties between the lord and his minister, between the father and his son, there used to be the great conducts of loyalty and filial piety, of benevolence and propriety. The students of our age do not study and practice, so the great ties and the great conducts are used to sweep the floor. Yang Xiong said, "If a man does not study, even though he has no worries but he won't he be like the birds?" This is the tenth lament. Translated by Imre Galambos en Español © 2008 Logoi.com. All Rights Reserved