Masters Chen and Tung established a firm schedule for their students during the late Song dynasty (960-1279). This excerpt indicates that children's education was strongly influenced by neo-Confucian teachings, a tendency that continued until the end of the imperial period in China.

SCHOOL REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY MASTER CH'ENG AND TUNG:

All students of this school must observe closely the following regulations.

1. Ceremonies held on the 1st and 15th of every month. At daybreak, the student on duty for that day will sound his clappers. At the first round of the clappers, you should rise, wash your face, comb your hair, and put on proper clothing. By the second round of the clappers, you should be dressed either in ceremonial robes or in summer robes and gather in the main hall. The teachers will then lead you to the image...