The Chinese Classics: with a translation, critical and exegetical notes, prolegomena and copious indexes

The Books now recognised as of highest authority in China are comprehended under the denominations of 'The five Ching[1]' and 'The four Shu [2]. ' The term Ching is of textile origin, and signifies the warp threads of a web, and their adjustment. An easy application of it is to denote what is regular and insures regularity. As used with reference to books, it indicates their authority on the subjects of which they treat. 'The five Ching' are the five canonical Works, containing the truth upon the highest subjects from the sages of China, and which should be received as law by all generations. The term Shu simply meansWritings or Books, = the Pencil Speaking; it may be used of a single character, or of books containing thousands of characters.