As a book of high regard in the Ming and Qing Dynasty, why is Cai Qing’s writing, Introduction to the Four Books for Beginners (Sishu Mengyin), got less attention in recent studies? What does Diao Bao’s saying mean that Cai Qing is one of the most important person regarding Four Books with Collected Commentaries (Sishu Jizhu)? Why Cai Qing wrote the book yet Encyclopedia of the Four Books (Sishu Daquan) had existed in that time? Based on above questions, this study focuses on clarifying the four following issues: first, the exact meaning that Cai Qing is one of the most importance person regarding Four Books with Collected Commentaries (Sishu Jizhu); second, the relationship between A Study of Introduction to the Four Books for Beginners (Sishu Mengyin) and Encyclopedia of the Four Books (Sishu Daquan); third, the feature of Cai Qing’s way in explaining and annotating the Four Books ; final, the value of Cai Qing’s writing in the history of the Four Books and its annotation. This study follows Book of Rites (Li Ji), which emphasizing the importance of carrying out the concept in the book. In Cai Qing’s writing, the basic idea in annotating the Four Books goes to the practice of the saying in the Four Books. Filial piety and the learning process of the Four Books are the extending ideas. The extending ideas are consistent with the basic idea, the practice.
It could be concluded as follows. First, the feature of Cai Qing’s way in annotating the Four Books is the practice, Cai Qing’s effort on annotating Four Books with Collected Commentaries (Sishu Jizhu) makes him one of the most important person in regarding Four Books with Collected Commentaries (Sishu Jizhu). Also, his effort on annotating Encyclopedia of the Four Books (Sishu Daquan), the must-read for the candidates pursuing the role of government officials, lead to the deep understanding of the Four Books to numerous intellectuals and made the classics more popular and more close to daily life. With the understanding that Cai Qing’s way in annotating the Four Books emphasizing practice is based on the spirit of Confucianism, it then could be said that one has learned the key of Introduction to the Four Books for Beginners (Sishu Mengyin), and the standing of the book then can be reevaluated.