? Author - Yun Qing
Zeng Guofan, the first famous official of the Zhongxing Dynasty in the late Qing Dynasty, was an important historical figure in modern Chinese history. He was the founder of the Hunan Army and the highest Commander-in-Chief, later generations once called him the "Eternal Perfect Man."
He started the "Westernization Movement", opened China's first "armament factory", manufactured China's first ship, established the first large-scale multi-functional industrial base, and established China's first The National Translation Center sent out the first batch of international students, and is known as the father of the Westernization Movement.
There are five Zeng Guofan brothers. As the elder brother of the family, he is fully responsible for the important responsibilities of his brothers in studying, behaving, and cultivating themselves.
He mentioned many times in his family letters that his grandfather Zeng Yuping’s family management instructions were instigated by him in terms of conduct, politics, family tradition, and physical and mental care, which fully reflected his role as an elder brother. Zeng Guofan's demeanor,
Zeng Guofan was not very smart when he was in school since he was a child, and was even a little stupid. There is a story about his study, which can illustrate the extent of his stupidity.
When he was in school, the teacher asked him to come back and memorize a very simple lesson. He could not master it even after reviewing and reciting it from the evening until the early morning.
That night the thief happened to be lurking on the roof beam of his house. He wanted to wait until the owner finished memorizing the book and went to bed before stealing. However, Zeng Guofan was too stupid. He recited the article over and over again, memorizing the front and forgetting the back. I memorized it until early in the morning and still couldn't memorize it.
The thief who climbed on the rafter would have memorized it after hearing it so many times. He waited until dawn and became so angry that he jumped down from the rafter and recited the article from beginning to end to Zeng Guofan. He cursed fiercely, "You are so stupid," and then walked away.
Zeng Guofan was a very controversial figure in the late Qing Dynasty, but both those who admired him and those who despised him highly praised his "Zeng Guofan Family Letter".
To this day, there is still a saying among the people that "to be an official, one should learn from Zeng Guofan, and to do business, one should learn from Hu Xueyan."
"Zeng Guofan's Family Letters" is not just a collection of letters recording family affairs , is also a book containing life wisdom on how to behave, manage a family and educate children.
It also records the main activities of Zeng Guofan's life and reflects his important thoughts on politics, life, family, scholarship and military affairs, which is enough to become a Chinese traditional culture. Classics and life lessons.
Zeng Guofan’s family letters cover the important period from 31 to 57 years old in his life.
He experienced four emperors: Jiaqing (Zeng was 10 years old). ), Daoguang (reached the age of 40), Xianfeng (reached the age of 51), and Tongzhi (reached the age of 62). It can be roughly summarized as follows: childhood comes from Jiaqing, maturity comes from Daoguang, waves come from Xianfeng, and harvest comes from Tongzhi.
There are more than 330 family letters of Zeng Guofan, which is the largest number of family letters preserved in history. The whole book is divided into family management, self-cultivation, education, financial management, emergency relief, and friendship. Use 10 major categories including human beings, marching, travel, and chores
Each of his letters home is full of Zeng Guofan’s concern and emotional expression for his family. With the time and space of a hundred years apart, But it feels so kind and real, just like reading a letter written by his own family.
As a son, Zeng Guofan was filial to his parents, as an elder brother, he taught and cared about his brothers, and as a father, he was also caring for his children. Set an example.
The Zeng family has always been very strict in running the family and is very disciplined. Influenced by the family tradition, Zeng Guofan is also very strict with his younger brothers and teaches them diligently.
< p>His educational guidance for his brothers has many merits, such as teaching them to read, learn, be diligent, frugal, self-reliant, perseverant, cultivate themselves, and serve as officials. At the same time, he also inherited and carried forward the , the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation.His family letters emphasize life ideals, spiritual realm and moral cultivation. In a modern society where family ties are becoming increasingly indifferent and neighbors and relatives are strangers, they do have some advice to be secular. It is worth reading for everyone.
Zeng Guofan’s family letters cover the following major points of view:
Zeng Guofan attaches great importance to health care and longevity. In many letters, he mentioned "observe his father's precepts of self-preservation", "restraint on labor, abstinence from sex, and abstinence from food", and put health care first.
The way to be an official:
< p>Zeng Guofan was familiar with Chinese history and had a thorough understanding of the ways of officialdom. He accumulated a complete set of unique skills in officialdom, which he used to conquer all battles in Chinese officialdom.He frequently met with his younger brother Zeng Guoquan. In the correspondence, he often educates and warns his younger brother on how to be an official. Since ancient times, the officialdom has been dangerous, and accompanying the emperor is like accompanying a tiger.
Most of the officials are tolerant, opportunistic, and upright. It can be said that there are very few, but Zeng Guofan did it.
How to run the army:
Zeng Guofan and his younger brother mentioned many times in their family letters that the way to run the army is based on the system. No one is allowed to violate the system. The system comes first, rewards and punishments are clear, and at the same time, we must love the people, get the support of the people, and work together as one to win the war.
How to be a human being:
He also talked to his brothers about the way of studying and cultivating oneself in letters, which was very contagious. He believed that studying requires the essence of work and there is no other way.
Zeng Guofan not only said this, he also did this himself. In his life, he also practiced diligence, humility, guard against arrogance, tolerance, frugality, perseverance and self-improvement, which can be seen frequently in his family letters.
How to run a family:
Zeng Guofan's sixteen-character famous saying about how to run a family is that if a family is thrifty, it will be prosperous; if a person is diligent, he will be strong; if he is diligent and frugal, he will never be poor or humble.
In his letters at home, he also taught his son how to study, took the trouble to impart family rules and disciplines, and taught his son to speak slowly and walk steadily, which demonstrated his image as a strict father and his deep fatherly love. .
Self-cultivation:
Confucianism advocates self-cultivation, ordering the family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world, among which self-cultivation is the foundation. Zeng Guofan believed that to be successful, one must first be ambitious, and second, be knowledgeable. The third thing is perseverance.
And he also strictly requires himself to do it. He keeps a diary every day, reflects, detects, and corrects his mistakes, increases his knowledge and skills, and cultivates good psychological quality.
He did this himself, and hoped that his younger brothers and children could follow suit. His view was that humility makes people progress, and pride makes people fall behind. These views also have profound lessons for future generations.
Zeng Guofan’s family letters are worth reading for every person with lofty ideals. In the process of reading, they can re-recognize themselves, shape themselves, and examine their own souls.
"Zeng Guofan's Family Letters" is not only a collection of letters recording family life, but also a book containing life wisdom on how to behave, manage a family and educate children. Contemporary family education should draw on the essence of traditional culture, which contains abyss of knowledge. It is worth for each of us to learn how to borrow signatures.