A common method used by ancient Chinese families to educate their children was

A common method used by ancient Chinese families to educate their children was storytelling.

Especially for young children it was a good form of education. Ancient China is rich in moral stories, and by telling these stories, children can better understand the meaning and value of morality and develop their moral consciousness and quality.

In the Confucian theory of cultivating one's moral character, aligning one's family, ruling the country and calming the world, cultivating one's moral character is the foundation. Therefore, Confucianism attaches great importance to cultivating and shaping one's personal character, and influencing others through one's personal character. Confucius advocated that "the right person is the right person first, his body is correct, not to order and do, his body is not correct, although the order does not follow".

Because of China's ancient family book family training is a family of respected elders to write their children's educational materials, therefore, many of the views from their own personal experience to say, so that invisible to the children and grandchildren to play a role model demonstration effect.

Principles of family education in ancient China

One of the principles of family education in ancient China

It was Confucius who said in the Analects of Confucius that if you have the ability to do what you want to do, you should learn from others

This is what Confucius said in the Analects of Confucius. The word "conduct" here refers to moral behavior, and the word "literature" refers to cultural knowledge. He emphasized the need to put moral education before cultural and intellectual education. Besides Confucius, many ancient thinkers have emphasized this point. Han Yu said, "Teachers, so preach and teach and solve puzzles."

That is, an educator's duty is first to "preach" (ideological and moral education), followed by "teaching" (teaching business knowledge) and "solving puzzles" (solving difficult problems). (solving difficult problems). Wang Fuzhi puts forward the three steps of "learning well", "practicing vigorously", and "knowing shame", especially emphasizing that "knowing shame" is the key to doing a good job of "learning well". The three steps of "learning well", "practicing diligently" and "knowing shame" were emphasized, with "knowing shame" being the driving force behind "learning well" and "practicing diligently". All of this is to say that moral education should be placed at the top of all other education.

Second, literature, conduct, loyalty and faith at the same time

Ancient educators did not advocate ideological and moral education in isolation. They advocated that moral education should be carried out at the same time as education in culture and knowledge. Confucius in the "Analects" put forward "son to four teachings: text, line, loyalty, faith", and in the implementation of teaching, divided into "virtue, speech, politics, literature" four subjects, ideological and moral cultivation is taught throughout a variety of subjects, emphasizing that "Establishment in rites and ceremonies, and success in music."

He also said, "Poetry 300, in a nutshell, says: 'Think without Evil'." The so-called "thinking without evil" refers to the idea of sensitization. In other words, he believed that each of the three hundred poems contained pure moral education. Xunzi wrote a special treatise on music, arguing that the establishment of music could "control the hearts of the people", "improve the hearts of the people", and "change the winds and customs". It is a fine tradition of thinkers of all times to educate the future generations by using the historical books which are faithful to the facts as well as the noble conduct of the celebrities of the past generations.

The "Records of the Grand Historian" written by Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty, the "Historical Records" written by Liu Zhiqi of the Tang Dynasty, and the "Ziji Tongjian" compiled under the leadership of Sima Guang of the Song Dynasty are all about educating and enlightening people with the facts of history, and serving as a reference for "not forgetting what happened in the past and teaching in the future".

Three, where there's a will, there's a way

Ancient thinkers said "where there's a will, there's a way", "in the heart for the will", "three armies can seize the marshal, but not a man can seize the will. "and so on, all have the meaning of "volunteer", "ambition", "ideal" and hard work. Ideological and moral education is to inspire people to make up their minds to do what is morally right, to be noble, to adhere to their ideals, to be firm in their beliefs, and to be full of confidence. No matter what you do, you should work towards the set goal, be diligent and courageous, be strong in heart and mind, and be persevering.

Confucius said, "Seeing the virtuous think of Qi Yan, see not virtuous and internal self-reflection," is to encourage people to be determined. Mencius emphasized the "hold the will" and "still want to". He said: "the will, the gas of the handsome also". He also suggested that we should cultivate a kind of "vast vitality" and asked people to strive for improvement. This point is also to be advocated today.