Liaofan sixun 了凡四訓

Liaofan sixun 了凡四訓 "(Yuan) Liaofan's four instructions" is a text for primary education written by the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) scholar Yuan Liaofan 袁了凡 (1533-1606), original name Yuan Huang 袁黃, courtesy name Kunyi 坤儀.

It is China's oldest text particularly written as a textbook for schools. It is still used today in Taiwan. Yuan Liaofan prepared for a long time for the state examinations, but a soothsayer told him that he would not pass and would die at the age of 53 sui without a heir, and therefore he decided to at least compile a book that would make the preparation easier for later generations.

In 1569, Yuan became acquainted with the Zen master Yungu 雲谷禪師 who made clear to him that there was no fate that can be prognosticated. Yuan Liaofan indeed fathered a son in old age, and with 69 sui began to write down his book, as a kind of instruction for his son, for which reason the book was originally called Xunziwen 訓子文 "Instructions for my son".

The aim of the book is to explain to the readers that virtuous conduct would lead to happiness and enable anyone to change his fortune. It is divided into four chapters that combine Confucian concepts of virtual conduct with Buddhist and Daoist teachings. The late Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) politician and thinker Zeng Guofan 曾國藩 (1811-1872) was highly impressed by the Liaofan sixun, likewise the philosopher and professor Hu Shi 胡適 (1891-1962) from the Republican period.