Book of Documents (书经)

The Shujing (Classic of History) or Shangshu is a foundational compilation of documents concerning Ancient Chinese statecraft. Spanning from the legendary emperors to the early Zhou dynasty, it consists of speeches, counsels, and decrees attributed to sage-kings like Yao and Shun. More than a mere historical record, it serves as a political and ethical manifesto. It introduced the pivotal Mandate of Heaven (Tianming), asserting that a ruler’s legitimacy depends on their virtue and care for the people. By blending history with moral philosophy, the Shujing became a core Confucian classic, shaping Chinese governance and social ethics for millennia.