(1) Step by step
Zhu advocates reading step by step, which contains three meanings. First, read in a certain order, not upside down. He proposed that the second reading is the second reading of He Shu. "Anyone who studies, read Yu and Meng first, and then look at history. Here, like a mirror, ugliness cannot escape. If you don't read through language, Mencius, the Doctrine of the Mean and universities, you will go to see history. Without a little balance, you will be confused. " Not only reading a book has a secondary problem, but reading the same book also has a secondary problem. "The last sentence is followed by the next sentence, and the first paragraph is followed by the next paragraph. It can really be seen that nothing is reasonable." This process from simple to complex accords with the law of human cognition. Human understanding of objective things always goes through a process from immaturity to maturity and from imperfection to perfection. Second, we should arrange a reading plan according to our actual situation and ability, and earnestly abide by it. From the psychological point of view, everyone's ability is different, not only their own and others' ability level is different, but also their own ability level is different at different stages of development. So make a study plan according to your own ability. Third, we should lay a good foundation for reading, and we should not swallow our dates and rush for success. Zhu divided a person's education into childhood, primary school and university. The division of these three stages is also based on the principle of gradual progress. From learning "everything should be known from clothes and shoes, speech, sweeping, reading and writing chores", to "teaching sweeping, coping with advance and retreat, shooting books with courtesy and music", and then to "cultivating oneself, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world", these are all based on children. To sum up, this step-by-step method is conducive to making the knowledge structure hierarchical, and it also conforms to the psychology that "knowing the series position of materials affects the memory effect, and the order of materials plays an important role in the memory effect".
(2) Read carefully and think carefully
Reading should not only be familiar with reading, but also be good at thinking. Some people learn "so they can't remember, they can't say it, and they are born and sick in their hearts, and they are inexperienced." His request for perusal is to "make everything come out of my mouth". To this end, he advocated that reading should be able to recite, emphasizing that reading must be read a certain number of times. Even if you can recite it, if you don't have enough times, you still have to read it enough times. Because in his view, "a hundred times is naturally stronger than fifty times, and 200 times is naturally stronger than a hundred times." Familiar reading really helps to understand, "read it a thousand times, its meaning is self-evident", that's what I mean. However, Zhu's emphasis on the reading era is too mechanical.
The purpose of perusal is meditation. Zhu's requirement for careful thinking is to "make his meaning come from the heart". For the method of meditation, Zhu proposed the process of "no doubt-doubt-solution". He said: "When you start reading, you will have doubts about the unknown." Secondly, there is a growing suspicion. In the middle, it is doubtful. After a period of time, doubts gradually solved, and even reached mastery. There is no doubt that learning is the beginning. "The process from doubt to doubt to solution is the process of finding and solving problems here. Finding problems and solving them are the results of careful thinking. If you can really read well and think well, then you can really finish reading the book and remember it forever.
Moderate self-restraint
The method of reading modestly includes two meanings. The so-called "modesty" means that when reading, you should be open-minded, think carefully and understand the meaning of the book carefully, and don't be preconceived and far-fetched. When you find doubts in reading, be modest and calm, and don't make hasty decisions. The so-called "culvert swimming" means chewing repeatedly and pondering carefully when reading. He said: "There is no other way to study, only sincere and open-minded, repeated serious play, is a useful ear."
(4) observe yourself.
Zhu stressed that reading can't just stay in books and words, but must be seen in one's own practical actions and practiced. He said: "Reading depends not only on paper, but also on yourself." He strongly opposes the reading method of seeking righteousness only from books, rather than "body-to-body", and thinks that even "extensive study and five cars a day" is not conducive to learning. Only "calmly read the sentence between the meaning and the meaning, and experience the reality of practice, then calm down and understand, and gradually see the meaning."
(5) Tighten and apply force
The tight and hard reading method includes two meanings: first, we should pay close attention to practice, forget all about eating and sleeping, and oppose leisure; Second, we must be full of energy, be brave in fighting and oppose looseness. To this end, Zhu profoundly compared reading to fighting fire and treating diseases, propping up a water boat and burning it down. It is believed that reading should have the same sense of urgency as fighting fires and treating diseases, the tenacious style of propping up a water boat and the spirit of going forward if you don't advance.
(6) Respect and ambition.
"Stay at a respectful distance from others" is an important method of Zhu's moral cultivation and his most important reading method. He pointed out that "the method of reading is not good at order, and the essence of being good at precision lies in respect and ambition." It's not easy. "The so-called' local respect' means that you are single-minded and dedicated when studying. Zhu said: "When reading, you must restrain your heart. This is respect. " He also said: "when reading, you must stick your heart to the book, word for word, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is easy to discuss." A scholar must tidy up his mind, let the experts be quiet and pure, and there is no distraction between daily activities before he can read the text carefully. "The so-called' perseverance' is to establish lofty aspirations and lofty goals, and stick to them for a long time with tenacious perseverance. He said, "Not sure how to study? "Only by establishing a clear ambition can we' blindly advance' and make continuous progress in our study.