"A porridge and a meal are hard to come by; It's hard to keep thinking about things. " What does that mean?

When we eat every bowl of porridge and rice, we should think about how many people pay and how much energy is consumed in this porridge, which is really hard-won; We should always think about how much material energy and people's efforts are involved in every thread and every thread we need in our life, and we should cherish it.

From: Zhu Zi's family instructions

Author: (Qing)

Zhu Bolu (1627- 1698), whose real name is Yongchun, is called Bailu. Kunshan (now Jiangsu) people in the early Qing Dynasty. The author of Zhu Zi's family instructions.

I devoted myself to studying since I was a child and was admitted to a scholar. After the Qing dynasty entered Guanming, after the Ming dynasty died, he stopped seeking fame, lived in the countryside to teach students, dive into psychology, and advocated knowing and doing together, which was quite famous for a while. Kangxi was called up many times, and he insisted on not knowing anything about ci. He is the author of The Book of Changes, Notes on Four Books, Words of Advice, Poems of Shame Farming Hall, Notes on the Doctrine of the Mean in University, and Shame Collection. His "family instructions", known as "Zhu Xi's family instructions", are widely circulated.

"Zhu Zi's Family Instructions" is intended to persuade people to manage their families diligently. For example, there is a couplet in it: a porridge and a meal, it is not easy to think; It is difficult to keep thinking about material resources. Since its publication, it has been widely circulated and honored as a "classic of family management" by scholars of past dynasties. From the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, it once became one of the required reading materials for children.

"Family Instructions of Zhu Zi" is only 522 words, which brilliantly expounds the way of self-cultivation and family planning, and is a masterpiece of family education. Of course, feudal dross, such as some prejudice against women, is the historical limitation of that era, and we can't be harsh on our predecessors.

Extended data:

The full text of "Running a Family":

Get up at dawn, sweep the courtyard, and be neat inside and outside.

When you are unconscious, you will rest. If you close the door, you will behave well.

It is not easy to think about a porridge and a meal; It is difficult to keep thinking about material resources.

It is better to prepare for a rainy day than to dig a well when you are thirsty.

Self-help must be frugal, and banquets must not be delayed.

The utensils are clean and tidy, and the tile is better than gold; The diet is good, and vegetables are more than delicious food. (A: Garden vegetables are better than delicacies)

Don't run fancy houses, don't seek fertile land.

Three aunts and six wives are the media of prostitution and theft; Beautiful girls and concubines are not the blessings of the boudoir.

Servants should not be handsome, and wives should not wear heavy makeup.

Although the ancestors are far away, the sacrifice must be sincere; Although children and grandchildren are stupid, they must read classics.

The life cycle is simple, and the godson should have an upright side.

Don't covet unexpected wealth and drink too much.

Trade with your shoulders, don't take advantage; When you see poor neighbors, you must be warm-hearted.

Mean marriage will not last long; Lun Chang is a good boy and will die soon.

Brothers and uncles must decorate widows more; Young and old, both inside and outside, should be strict with themselves.

Listen to the woman say, dear flesh and blood, is it a husband? If you value wealth and ignore your parents, you can't be the son of human beings.

Marry a woman, choose a good husband, and do not seek re-employment; It's not too thick to marry a daughter-in-law and beg a lady.

It is most shameful to see wealth and flattery; Being arrogant when you are poor is nothing more than meanness.

If you go to court at home, the lawsuit will be fierce; If you talk too much, you lose.

Don't rely on power to bully widows; Don't be greedy and kill birds.

If you are eccentric, you will regret many mistakes; Laziness and self-indulgence are hard.

If you are naughty, you will be bored for a long time; Qu Zhi is old, but if you are in a hurry, you can rely on each other.

Listen to the speech lightly, be aware of unreasonable complaints, and think twice patiently;

If you argue about something, you don't know whether it is right or wrong. You must think it over calmly.

Don't forget to give help, but don't forget to accept it.

Leave room for everything and be proud of it.

People are happy, not jealous; People should not be happy when they are in trouble.

Being a good person and wanting to be seen by others is not really good; Fear of being known is a great sin.

Seeing the color, I reported my wife and daughter; Hide resentment with arrows in the back, delaying future generations.

Family harmony, although embarrassing, is also full of joy;

The Chinese class ended in the morning, but there was nothing left. I was complacent.

Reading is aimed at sages, not disciples; If you are an official, you will keep your country.

Keep quiet and listen to the weather forecast. If you do this, you will be very close.

Business Family Training (also known as Zhuzi Family Training, Zhuzi Family Training and Zhu Bailu Family Training) has a full text of 524 words, which is easy to understand, concise and well-founded, neat and catchy. Since its publication, it has spread like wildfire and become a famous classic of godson's family management in Qing Dynasty. Some of these epigrams, such as "a porridge and a meal, are not easy to think about;" Half-silk and half-wisp, persistent thinking about material difficulties, "prepare for a rainy day and dig a well without thirst" still has educational significance today.

Zhuzi's Family Instructions, with the aim of "self-cultivation" and "keeping the family in order", is a master of the Confucian way of life, with profound thoughts and profound implications. The whole content of Zhu Zi's Family Instructions is to persuade people to manage their families diligently.

Talking about China's moral education thought formed in thousands of years can be expressed in the form of famous sayings and aphorisms, passed down orally, or written as couplets to be hung in the gate, hall and bedroom as the motto of managing the family and educating children. Therefore, it is very popular with bureaucrats, gentry and literati, and has spread widely since it came out. It was once regarded as a "classic of family management" by scholars in previous dynasties, and once became one of the required reading materials for children from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-Zhuzi Family Instructions