The teachings of the nine ancient Chinese masters:
1. Zhuge Liang's "Book of Commandments"
A husband and a gentleman should practice quietness to cultivate their moral character and be frugal to cultivate their virtues. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. If you want to learn, you want to be quiet; if you want to be talented, you need to learn. Without learning, there is no way to expand talents; without ambition, there is no way to achieve learning. If you are careless and slow, you will not be able to master it; if you are impetuous, you will not be able to be rational.
This is a letter home from Zhuge Liang to his eight-year-old son in his later years. In this family letter, Zhuge Liang asked his son to study diligently and be inspirational, and to work hard on self-cultivation of indifference and tranquility. Avoid being impatient or acting absurdly. At the end of the article, he earnestly taught: "If a young man does not work hard, the old man will be in vain." Zhuge Liang worked day and night for the affairs of the Shu Han Dynasty and had no time to take care of his son's education, so he wrote this letter to warn his son.
2. Confucius "taught Zi Li"
"If you don't learn poetry, you can't speak; if you don't learn etiquette, you can't stand."
One day, Confucius was standing in the courtyard, and his son Kong Li walked over quickly with his head lowered. Confucius stopped him and asked, "Have you studied poetry?" Kong Li replied, "No." Confucius said: "How can you speak without studying poetry?" Kong Li went back to study poetry. The next day, Kong Li met Confucius standing in the courtyard again. Confucius asked: "Have you learned etiquette?" Kong Li replied: "No." Confucius said: "If you don't learn etiquette, how can you behave?" So Kong Li went back to practice etiquette. This story is called "court training". Later, the ancients called a father's reprimand to his son "court training".
3. Sima talks about "Mingzi Qian"
Filial piety to a husband starts with serving relatives, ends with serving the king, and finally establishes oneself; becoming famous in future generations to show off one's parents, this is filial piety. The big one.
Sima Tan believes that in the more than four hundred years since the death of Confucius, princes have merged and historical records have been cut off. Today, the country is unified, and there are many deeds of wise rulers, wise kings, loyal ministers and righteous men. However, as a Taishi Ling, he could not fulfill his writing duties and felt very uneasy. Therefore, he cried and asked his son Sima Qian when he died, hoping that he could inherit his father's legacy and not forget to write history books. Sima Qian lived up to his father's orders and finally wrote "Historical Records", which is known as "the swan song of historians and the rhymeless Li Sao".
4. Han Yu’s famous family motto
When someone asks me about worldly affairs, I wave my hands and shake my head and say I don’t know. You must stay close to the wise men and thank the ruthless friends early. Taking a step back is natural and elegant, making three points so relaxing. You can endure a few words of worry-free comfort, and you can endure a moment of happiness and immortality. Don't worry about being poor and don't praise the rich. It's hard to see how the poor will last long and the family will be rich. I would rather pick the tea from the mountains and drink the wine from the flower street. It is easy for a real man to start a family, and it is not difficult for a noble man to set a goal. Eating vegetable roots has a mild taste, and you will not be surprised if you abide by the king's law and dream.
From these family mottos, it is not difficult to see Han Yu's upright and frank personality, as well as his attitude towards life that is adaptable to the circumstances, easy-going and optimistic. This is what he wants to warn future generations.
5. Ouyang Xiu's "Teaching Theory"
If jade is not polished, it will not become a tool; if a person does not learn, he will not know. However, as jade is an object, it has unchanging virtues. Although it is not carved into a tool, it still does not harm it into being jade. Human nature changes due to things. If you don't learn, you will abandon the gentleman and become a villain. Can you not think about it?
——Excerpted from Ouyang Xiu's "Teaching Theory"
Ouyang Xiu advised his descendants to study hard and improve their self-cultivation. Warning to future generations: People have to go through hard work before they can make a difference. Human habits are most easily affected by the external material environment. If you cannot temper yourself at all times and improve your knowledge and moral connotation, you will give up being a gentleman and become a villain.
6. Lu You’s family motto
Those who are young and talented are most likely to do bad things. If so, father and brother should feel worried, not happy. It is necessary to always add simple bundles, make people familiar with the classics, teach them to be generous and respectful, and do not let them hang around with superficial people. Since then, for more than ten years, my ambitions have developed. Otherwise, the things that can be considered are not limited to one end. What I say is a medicinal stone for future generations. Everyone must be careful about it, so as not to regret it.
Lu You attached great importance to the education of his children, so he wrote a family motto for his children and grandchildren. He told future generations: Children's conduct should be started from childhood. Only with good moral ethics can a person with a sound personality be able to truly serve the society; and in educating children, one must first become an adult and then become a talent. Lu You believes that children's growth is inseparable from their environment, so they should make friends.
7. Ji Xiaolan’s “Four Precepts” and “Four Pros”
The Four Precepts: One is to get up late; the other is to be lazy; the third is to be extravagant and gorgeous; the fourth is to be proud.
Four advisables: First advisable: study diligently; Second advisable: Respect teachers; Third advisable: Universal love for all living beings; Fourth advisable: Be careful about what you eat.
Ji Xiaolan also wrote a letter home titled "Training the Elderly", which was highly praised by future generations. In the letter, he taught his son to be careful when making friends and think twice before making a decision. Know how to distinguish between a gentleman and a villain, and have more friends with upright and useful people.
8. Bao Zheng’s family motto
Those who will be officials in future generations and commit corruption will not be allowed to be released back to their families; after they die, they will not be buried in a big tomb. Those who do not follow my will are not my descendants. (Character) Yang Gong published a stone and erected it on the east wall of the hall as a warning to future generations.
Bao Zheng said in his family motto that among future generations of officials who are corrupt, they will not be allowed to return to their hometowns, nor will they be allowed to be buried in their ancestors' graves. Bao Zheng's family motto is not only his admonition to future generations, but also a portrayal of his life. 9. Zhu Bolu’s motto for managing the house
Rise up at dawn and sweep the courtyard to make sure it is tidy both inside and outside. As soon as you feel faint, you will rest. If you lock the door, you must check it yourself. A porridge and a meal, when you think about where you came from is not easy. Half a thread and half a strand, Heng Nian is struggling with material resources. It is better to prepare before it rains and not to dig a well when thirsty. You must be frugal in showing yourself off, and do not linger over banquets.
To sum up, the nine major categories of family mottos in ancient times contain a lot of content, and some of them can be used for reference in modern times.