Confucius dictating the Spring and Autumn Annals

在孔子时代的私学，儒生皆应学习“诗、书、礼、易、乐、春秋”六门功课，亦即“六经”。而这六部经典正是经由孔子的整理、修订和传授，才得以流传下来。《孔子口述<春秋>》这幅油画选取的是中国古代经典文化中的孔子形象作为绘画的对象。孔子将《春秋》经文的传解，独传弟子子夏的情景。孔子说:“后世知丘者以《春秋》，而罪丘者亦以《春秋》”。可见这一书对其来说何其珍贵和重要。

  In Confucius’ day, students of a private school should learn six subjects, namely Book of Songs, Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Book of Music, Book of Change, and Spring and Autumn Annals, which are called the “Six Classics”. Thanks to Confucius’ efforts in collating, editing and teaching these classics, they have been mostly passed down to us. This painting depicts Confucius dictating his interpretations of the Spring and Autumn Annals exclusively to his student Zixia. Confucius said: “Later generations will know me because of the Spring and Autumn Annals, and may criticize me also because of it”. That shows that this book is precious and important to him.

“文化互译，沟通世界”