Featured Antique small box Japanes/Chinese writing inside

I got this neat box out of a storage unit.Has some type of Chinese or Japanese writing inside bottom and lid.Any information.

 

a game box.....or maybe scribes writing box...

 

Maybe the text is a clue? (or just an old newspaper )
Could you help please @Silver Wolf , @JayBee , @lpan9 ?

 

don't those have a nice satin lining?
and a space to hold your balls..? ................................................

 

I've seen these referred to as "pillow boxes." And they're widely reproduced. Here a recent Chinese import, for example.

https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/orchid/product/red-chinese-pillow-box

Debora

 

Box is not satin lined,there's no place for Chinese stress balls.I have a small box with the stress balls.The storage probably belonged to an elderly lady because there were lots of old items.The box look like it was well used.

 

the writing using traditional chinese,i guess it's not younger than 19th century.for the purpose i don't have any idea,i'm not good reading traditional chinese,but maye for scroll box purpose or my wild opinion it could be have something with fortune teller things,i don't know

 

I think the pages inside the box are from the Tung Shing (通勝) which is a Chinese divination guide and almanac.

The up side is "朱子治家格言" (Zhu Xi's Maxims for Managing the Home) from the Tung Shing. You can see the words "讀書,為官,守分,聽天". It's from the page "讀書"志在聖賢非徒科第"為官"心存君國豈計身家"守分"安命順時"聽天" which means "In study one should aim at the saints and worthies, not merely at a degree. As an official one's heart should be with one's lord and country; how can one plan to advance oneself and one's family?! Keep in your social position and accept your fate. Follow the times. Obey Heaven."

The down side is some unit of traditional measurement of China about the "blessed hour"(吉時).

Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_Shing
http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/chtxts/JuBorlu.html

 

Awesome!

 

Wowwwww! so wonderful! great information! I love it,thanks sooo much Luis1026!

 

The words are on wood,the box is covered in leather.Awesome