What are the top ten classic family precepts in ancient China?

It has been more than 3,000 years in China to admonish family members and children with family instructions. It is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation to cultivate and attach importance to family education. In the implementation of family education in ancient China, "family instruction" occupied a very important position.

Because China's traditional political and ethical thoughts especially emphasize the close relationship between self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and calming down the world, family training with the aim of "being suitable for the family and tearing up the children and grandchildren" has always been valued by people and has become the most distinctive part of China's traditional cultural treasure house.

From the pre-Qin Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the family instructions handed down in ancient China were very rich. Selecting ten family instructions is not only widely representative, but also a classic among classics. Let's enjoy them with you.

First, the book of bird commandments.

Author: Zhou Gongdan (about 1 100 BC), surnamed Ji Mingdan, was called Duke Zhou. According to legend, the system of rites and music established a system of laws and regulations and was honored as the founder of Confucianism.

"One meal, three spits and three feeds"

After Zhou Chengwang came to power, he built a new capital, Luoyi, and made a vassal. He gave the land of Lu to Bo Qin, the son of Duke Zhou.

Duke Zhou warned his son, "Don't despise talents just because you are sealed in Lu. I am the son of King Wen, my younger brother and uncle of King Cheng, and I am also responsible for assisting the emperor, so my position in the world is not contemptible.

However, in a bath, you have to stop many times, grab your hair, receive guests, eat, and stop many times for fear of losing your talent because of negligence. I have heard that if you are generous in virtue, but respect others, you will get honor; There is no danger if you are broad and diligent; If you are humble, you will always be rich; If people are strong but awe-inspiring, they will always win; Smart and wise, but always think that they are stupid and ignorant, that is, smart people; Being knowledgeable, rote memorizing and ignorant is really smart.

These six points are all virtues of modesty and prudence. Even if you are the son of heaven, you are rich in the world because you follow these virtues. Failure to be humble leads to death and national mourning. Jay is such an example. How could you be careless? "

Birqin lived up to his father's expectations, and within a few years, he managed to turn Lu into a state of etiquette with simple folk customs and respect for agriculture and learning.

There is a saying that "the Duke of Zhou vomits food, and the world returns to the heart". Duke Zhou's inculcation of his son is well-intentioned.

Second, "children's lives are moving"

Author: Sima Tan (? -Former 1 10), a native of xia yang (now Hancheng, Shaanxi) in the Western Han Dynasty, his son Sima Qian. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a Taishiling.

"the greatest filial piety"

Sima Tan is knowledgeable, so he later made the Taishi Order of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, commonly known as Taishi Gong, who was in charge of the weather ephemeris and was also responsible for recording, collecting and preserving ancient books and documents. This position is a newly established official position of Emperor Wu, which can be said to be "tailored" by Emperor Wu for Sima Tan. Therefore, Sima Tan is grateful and conscientious to Emperor Wu.

Because of his strong sense of responsibility, Sima Tan took his son Sima Qian by the hand and told him in tears when he was dying. This is Sima Tan's Music of Life. Sima Tan hoped that Sima Qian would inherit his career after his death and never forget to write history books, which he thought was "great filial piety". "Filial piety to her husband can help her family and her husband, and eventually she will gain a foothold. Later generations are famous to show their parents, and this filial piety is great. "

He thinks that in the more than 400 years after Confucius' death, the princes merged, the history books were dated, and today's domestic unification, the deeds of being wise and loyal, and so on. As an official, I feel very uneasy about not being able to perform my writing duties. Therefore, he earnestly hopes that Sima Qian can finish his unfinished business.

Sima Qian lived up to his father's entrustment and finally wrote Records of the Historian, which is known as "a historian's swan song, leaving Sao without rhyme" and is famous in history.

Some people say that without Sima Qian's The Life of a Touched Child, there would be no Sima Qian's Historical Records. It's true.

Third, commandment books and nephew commandment books.

About the author: Zhuge Liang (18 1-234), a famous politician and strategist in China history, is also a famous wisdom figure in folklore.

"If you are not indifferent, you will have no ambition."

Zhuge Liang got his son Zhuge Zhan at the age of 46. He likes this son very much and hopes that his son will become a pillar of the country in the future. Zhuge Liang has two sisters, and the son of the second sister is Pang Huan, who is deeply loved by Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang fought all the year round and was entangled in government affairs, but he still did not forget to educate his children. The two letters he wrote to Zhuge Zhan and Pang Huan were called "Commanding Book" and "Commanding Nephew Book".

The Book of Commandments says, "A gentleman's journey is to cultivate one's morality through quietness and frugality. Not cold, not awake, not quiet, not far away. If you study quietly, you must study. If you don't study, you won't learn widely. If you have no ambition, you can't succeed. If you are slow, you can't be energetic, and if you are dangerous, you can't be radical. Time keeps pace with the times, meaning keeps pace with the day, and then it becomes withered, not enough to meet the world, and it will be very sad to stay in poverty! "

The Book of Nephew Commandments says: "A husband should aim high, respect sages, abstain from lewdness and abandon doubt and stagnation. In this way, Ji Shu's ambition will be exposed and he will feel sad. Endure flexion and extension, remove details, ask questions extensively, except being too stingy. Although I have stayed for a long time, why bother to harm the beauty, why bother to suffer it? If the ambition is not strong, the spirit is not generous, people are stuck in vulgarity and silently tied to feelings, they will never be mediocre. "

It can be seen from the two letters that he has the same requirements for his son and nephew.

The Book of Commandments and the Book of Nephew are masterpieces in ancient family precepts, which expound the principles of self-cultivation, scholarship and being a man, and make people think.

Fourth, "Yan Family Instructions"

About the author: Yan Zhitui (53 1—59 1), originally from Linyi, crossed the river in the eastern Jin Dynasty. He experienced the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and he knew the advantages and disadvantages of studying in the South and studying in the North.

"It is better to be thin than to accumulate wealth."

Yan Zhitui combined his life experience and philosophical knowledge to write a book "Family Instructions of Yan Family" to admonish future generations. The book consists of seven volumes and twenty articles, each of which covers a wide range, but it mainly uses traditional Confucianism to educate children on how to cultivate self-cultivation, keep the family in order, live in the world and study.

For example, he advocates learning and opposes being unlearned; It is believed that learning should focus on reading and attach importance to the knowledge of workers, peasants and soldiers and businessmen. It is unrealistic to advocate "learning is expensive" and oppose empty talk.

Many famous sentences in the book are widely circulated, such as: "Living with kindness, like entering Lan Zhi's room, will last a long time;" Living with the wicked is like eating abalone, which stinks for a long time. " "It is better to be thin than to accumulate wealth." "Young scholars, such as the light of the morning glow; Old scholars, such as candlelight at night, sages, close their eyes and disappear. " "Can't be jealous between father and son; Love with flesh and blood, not Jane. If you don't accept Jane's kindness, you will waste your life. " "Don't hesitate to live, don't pity. "Wait a minute.

Throughout the ages, Yan family precepts have been highly respected, and even thought that "ancient and modern family precepts are based on this", which has been published and engraved repeatedly, although it lasted for more than a thousand years.

Yan Jiaxun (full translation)

Five, "Royal Commandments"

Author: Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong (598-649), the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, ruled the country with courtesy and humbled coachable.

"Eat one meal at a time and you will miss your husband."

Family Instructions for the Royal Family occupies a special position, and one of its representative works is Li Shimin's Family Instructions for the Royal Family. Emperor Taizong attached great importance to the education of governors, and often warned future generations to abide by moral norms, strengthen moral cultivation, and master the way of governing the country.

In commanding the royal family, Emperor Taizong took his diligence as an example to warn the royal family who was born with wealth and grew up in the palace to restrain themselves, cherish property and not be extravagant. Every time they wear a dress and eat a meal, they should not forget the hard work of silkworm women farmers.

When you hear a decision, don't be preconceived, don't consider your own emotions, be humble and be good at listening to different opinions, don't despise others because they have shortcomings, and don't be arrogant because they have advantages. Treat those who dare to oppose you as teachers and those who please you as thieves. Only in this way can we be prosperous, virtuous and auspicious forever.

Emperor Taizong had such strict requirements for the royal family that it was natural for the rule of Zhenguan to appear.

Sixth, "Bao Zheng Family Instructions"

About the author: Bao Zheng (999- 1062), a famous official in the Northern Song Dynasty, is famous for his wisdom of escaping from prison, honest and frank, and has the reputation of Bao Gong and Bao Qingtian.

"Those who abuse stolen goods will not be sent back to their own homes."

Bao Zheng is famous for its incorruptibility, integrity and law enforcement. In his later years, he formulated a family training for future generations, saying: "Future generations are officials, and abusers are not allowed to return to their own homes; After his death, he should not be buried in a big coffin. Not from my ambition, not from my descendants. "

* * * Thirty-seven characters, accompanied by the following words: "Lift the stone and stand on the main wall as a letter to future generations." Fourteen words again. Xun is Bao Xun, the son of Bao Zheng.

Bao Zheng's family instruction was a warning to his descendants before his death. He asked his son to publish the stone and erect it on the east wall of the main house for future generations. These 37 words embody Bao Gong's integrity and clean hands. Although it has a history of 1000 years, it is enough for the world.

Bao Zheng's family precepts are not only his admonitions to future generations, but also a portrayal of his life.

Seven, "teaching theory"

About the author: Ouyang Xiu (1007- 1072), a politician and writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, was one of the "Eight Great Masters in Tang and Song Dynasties".

"Jade is rough and wears easily."

Ouyang Xiu's father died when he was 4 years old, and his mother was very strict in his education. In order to reduce expenses, mother used reeds and charcoal as pens to teach Ouyang Xiu to read on the land or sand. Ouyang Xiu hopes that his son can continue to develop the habit of reading and learn the truth of being a man from books.

So when he was teaching his second son, Ouyang Yi, to study hard, he wrote "On Teaching": "The jade is unfinished and abrasive; People don't learn or know. However, jade is one thing, and Changde is constant. Although it is not a tool, it still does no harm to jade. Human nature, because things move, if you don't learn, you will be a villain instead of a gentleman. Can you not miss it? "

Ouyang Xiu uses "jade" as a metaphor for "human". He teaches well and can be described as a good hand.

Eight, "Yuan Fan Shi"

Author: Yuan Cai, whose birth year is unknown, died in 1 195, 1 163. He was a scholar, and later he went to the academy as an official, who was also responsible for receiving letters and visits and being honest with officials.

"There is no need to persuade the bad guys for evil."

Yuan Cai is a moral talent. At that time, people praised him as "well-behaved, knowledgeable and rich in literature". When he was a magistrate in Yueqing County, he was deeply impressed by Zisi's practice of promoting the golden mean among the people, so he wrote a book Yuan Fan Shi to practice ethical education.

Yuan Fan Shi is simple, vivid and homely, so it is also called "popular training".

There are many wonderful sentences in the book, such as "A villain should keep a respectful distance from others", "It is more important to blame others than others", "A villain doesn't need to remonstrate evil", "party member is not good at self-knowledge and warning himself" and so on.

Yuan's Fan Shi soon became a training material for private schools. Scholar-officials of all ages regarded this book as a treasure.

Yuan Fan Shi is a work in the history of China's family instructions, comparable to Yan's family instructions, and truly "hangs on future generations".

Nine, "Zhu Jiaxun"

About the author: Zhu Bailu (1627— 1698) was born in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. A famous philosopher and educator.

"Digging a well is not thirsty"

Zhu Bailu's father was killed while resisting the Qing army in Kunshan. Zhu Bailu served his mother, took care of his younger brothers and sisters, and made full preparations for emigration. He has never been an official and has been teaching in the countryside all his life. He devoted himself to his studies, based on neo-Confucianism of Cheng and Zhu, and advocated the unity of knowledge and action. He and Gu both insisted on being unlearned in the Kangxi Dynasty, and were called "Three Scholars of Wuzhong" with Xu Fang and Yang Wuxia.

The full text of Zhu Zi's Family Instructions is more than 500 words, which is concise, easy to understand and catchy. Since its publication, it has spread like wildfire and become a well-known and well-known classic family instruction for godchildren in the Qing Dynasty.

Some warnings, such as "a porridge and a meal, are not easy to think about; Half a silk and half a wisp, always thinking about material difficulties, "prepare for a rainy day and dig a well without thirst" still has educational significance today.

Although the full text of Zhu Zi's Family Instructions is only 506 words, it is the epitome of Confucianism's way of life.

X. discipleship rule

Author: Li Yuxiu (1647- 1729), Zi Qian, No.3. Famous scholar and educator in the early Qing Dynasty.

"Everyone must love"

After Li Yuxiu failed in the imperial examination, he devoted himself to academic research. According to the traditional requirements of children's education and his own teaching practice, he wrote Xun, which was later revised by Jia Cunren and renamed Disciples' Rules.

Disciples Rules was widely circulated in the late Qing Dynasty, and its influence was almost the same as that of the three or hundred surnames and Qian.

Disciples Rules, a seemingly insignificant little book, actually brings together the great wisdom of China sages.