Chinese Proverb

This song was written by Sharon Durant in 2002, and is based on an extract from the work of Chinese philosophy known as The Great Learning or 大學, which was compiled in the 1st century BC.

Chinese Proverb

When there is light in the soul
there is beauty in the person
When there is beauty in the person
there is harmony in the home
When there is harmony in the home
there is honour in the nation
When there is honour in the nation
there is peace in the world.

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Other recordings of this song:

High Spirits · Chinese Proverb - by Sharon Durant ALL PARTS

These words are based on the following section of Great Learning (verse 2):

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states.
Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families.
Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.
Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.
Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts.
Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.
Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete.
Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere.
Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.
Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.
Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated.
Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed.
Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

Here's the original Chinese text:

古之欲明明德於天下者,先治其國;
欲治其國者,先齊其家;
欲齊其家者,先修其身;
欲修其身者,先正其心;
欲正其心者,先誠其意;
欲誠其意者,先致其知,致知在格物。
物格而後知至,知至而後意誠,
意誠而後心正,心正而後身修,
身修而後家齊,家齊而後國治,
國治而後天下平。

Links

Sharon Durant's website
https://www.sharondurant.com

Chinese version of Great Learning, Verse 2
http://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&id=10383

English version of Great Learning, Verse 2
http://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&id=10383

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