Revised textbook turns to Chinese traditional culture

For example, 16 excerpts from the Analects of Confucius were included in the middle school textbooks.

"The six excerpts for seventh graders are about study, because grade seven is the first year of middle school," Zhu said. "The ten excerpts for ninth graders are about cultivating morality, as students at that age are on the threshold of entering society."

Zheng Weizhong, director of the primary school department at the press, told Xinhua that students now begin learning classical articles starting in third grade.

"We also added stories about Chinese folk art and ethnic culture, such as paper-cutting and the Tibetan Shoton (yogurt banquet) Festival," he said.

The change was welcomed by many teachers. Liu Jinping, who has been teaching in Luoyang in central China's Henan province for 39 years, agreed.

"Students at that age may not be able to understand some classic poetry and essays well, but they are like seeds that will grow one day. The children will benefit sooner or later," she said.

"Chinese traditional culture is beginning its rejuvenation, which will take time," said Chin-tang Lo, a 90-year-old scholar of ancient Chinese civilization.

He noted that the textbook revision is well timed for this rejuvenation. "The symbol of a nation's prosperity is not the economy, but civilization," he said.

But some people have questioned the revision. Mr. Li, father of a student at No. 1 Primary School in Shenyang's Hunnan New District, is among them.

"The students are too young to understand so many pieces with classical Chinese language. I am afraid they will lose interest," said Li.

Zheng Weizhong told Xinhua that adding classical and traditional material was not the only change. "We have updated content to make the books more relevant to children," he said.