Liao-Fan’s Four Lessons

The book of Liao Fan’s Four Lessons is not only widely read among the learned families of China and treasured by them as a family heirloom, it has also borne long and profound influence on Japan’s political and economic administrations. The famous Japanese Han scholar, Yasuoko Masahiro is an ardent promoter of this book. He has suggested that the Emperor of Japan and every Japanese Prime Minister should treat this book as a national treasure and that they should memorize the lessons, read them diligently and understand the lessons given in the book thoroughly. Anyone who wishes to govern should study the book carefully.

Yasuoka Masahiro praised this book as “magnificent knowledge that can move one’s life”. This book has influenced the youth of the Meiji era greatly, left its mark in China for four hundred years and deeply impressed upon Japanese society for a hundred years. Liao Fan’s Four Lessons is a good book, worthy of repeated study by youths – as well as anyone else – who strive to do better in their lives.

Liao Fan’s Four Lessons is divided into four chapters. If one takes twenty minutes each day to read one chapter, this book can be finished in four days. If one reads this book continuously for one year, he will be able to understand deeply the meanings within. This book also comes with explanatory footnotes and contemporary Chinese literary translation for easy reading.