Sanzijing, or The Classics of Three Chinese Characters, was banned from all public kindergartens and schools when the People's Republic of China was founded 1949 on grounds that it disseminated feudal ethics. More than half a century later, it has returned to schools in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province.

Teachers at Zhudonglu Primary School have begun tentatively treating the topic as a major course, like math or Chinese.

Tan Shirong, an official from Zhuzhou Municipal Bureau of Education, said the use of Sanzijing with other textbooks in local primary schools has been regarded as a major step in reform of the city's primary education.

Sanzijing was formerly used in kindergartens and primary schools as a fundamental course in cultivating good behavior and citizenship, and guiding children’s views on human nature and personal relations.

Many people, especially those who are middle-aged or older, insist that the core content of Sanzijing helps children to understand that they should be honest, respect their parents and teachers, and devote themselves to thoughts and actions that benefit their country.

Those opposed to bringing the book back argue that it advocates such feudal thinking as wives subordinating themselves to their husbands and ministers being faithful to their emperor.

Sanzijing, so named because its sentences each consist of three Chinese characters, is easy for children to read, understand and recite.

Tan said the introduction of Sanzijing in local primary schools has helped break the textbook monopoly in the city.

Zhudonglu Primary School is the first school to introduce Sanzijing this year, but Tan said they expect it to be used at all primary schools in the city beginning next year.

The inclusion of Sanzijing in the curriculum has also sparked debate among local educational officials, teachers and parents.

A teacher at Zhudonglu Primary School said the book is the quintessence of China's ancient culture, and will provide pupils with moral guidance while helping them to study ancient Chinese literature.

But Xie Sidi, another official from the Zhuzhou Municipal Bureau of Education, opposes the introduction of Sanzijing, saying it does not advocate democratic thought and does not treat people equally.

Some other mainland cities reportedly introduced Sanzijing in their primary schools this year.

The Railway No. 2 Primary School in the port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, will use it as a major textbook starting in the September term, said Li Zhuoxin, headmaster of the school.

But an official from the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau has refused to allow Sanzijing in that city's primary schools.

The official, who requested anonymity, said his bureau had mapped out its own educational reform plans. They do not include Sanzijing.

Guangdong Province published a new revised edition of Sanzijing in 1995, the official told China Daily Wednesday. That version, he said, was greatly improved by the excision of feudal morality content.

The new version, which is used in many primary schools and kindergartens in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, will not be a major component of courses in the coming years.

Teachers will not use results of examinations on the new version of Sanzijing to evaluate students, the official said.

(China Daily February 26, 2004)