Zeng Guofan also used the resources of Qi science in the theory of generation to make up for the limitations of Neo-Confucianism, saying that "Zhang Zizhi's "Zheng Meng" is mellow and upright, but has few friends." According to the ideas of Qi science, Zeng Guofan believed that all things in the world are born from the endowment of Qi, and Qi is the ultimate basic element that constitutes all things in the world. In the sense that they are born from innate energy, all things in the world are of the same body.
However, Zeng Guofan also believed that although the Qi of Taihe and Miao has been popular for a long time, and the Qi initially received by all things in the world is "even", the actual Qi endowed by people and things, saints and ordinary people are not the same. same. In terms of the relative relationship between people and things, people have the complete Qi, but things only have partial Qi; therefore, people have intelligence, while things only have physical nature. As far as human beings are concerned, the Qi endowed by saints is clear and thick, while the Qi endowed by ordinary people is turbid and thin. Zeng Guofan was very insightful about the way to make friends. He believed that making friends requires "honesty and uprightness, tolerance of humiliation and magnanimity, and no selfish suspicion". "Don't take advantage of others in anything. Don't take people's wealth lightly." We need to brainstorm ideas and listen without going deaf. "In terms of life, Zeng Guofan believes that "in these troubled times, the poorer the better." As a high-ranking official, "It is always better to have less money and less production." "Patience is the first priority for an official." , blessings are reduced by pride." As a human being, you must pay attention to the word "light", "Not only wealth, fame, fame, and fortune, but whether a child's surname is prosperous or not is determined by heaven, that is, whether knowledge and virtue are established or not, also Most of them are related to heavenly matters, and they are all laughed at and forgotten." "You don't have to do it by yourself, and you don't have to achieve fame by yourself." "It's better to retire after success."
Zeng Guofan wrote twelve mottos , basically summarizes his way of making friends. Zeng Guofan believes that the most important thing is the principle of filial piety among family members. Filial piety is easy to understand, which means gratitude, respect and support for parents and elders. Tie refers to brothers. In Zeng Guofan's family letters, it is generally believed that he wrote the most letters to his children. In fact, he wrote the most letters to his younger brothers, which shows that he had the most affection for his brothers. Zeng Guofan made a famous comment, saying that the rule of family prosperity is: the families of officials in the world generally decline after only one generation, because most of them are playboys; the families of merchants, that is, the families of private entrepreneurs, generally It can be passed down for three generations; a farm-reading family, that is, a family based on farming and studying, can generally thrive for five or six generations; and a filial friend's family, which means a family that pays attention to filial piety and brotherhood and manages the family with harmony, can often last for ten generations. Eight generations.
Zeng Guofan also emphasized "diligence in housekeeping" under the purpose of "ruling the family with harmony". This "diligence in housekeeping" has two meanings in Zeng Guofan, one is that family members must be diligent and thrifty, and the other is that family members must be diligent and thrifty. Parents should teach by words and deeds. He can take the lead in doing what Zeng Guofan said, and he does it very well. For example, his eldest son Zeng Jize likes Western sociology, and Zeng Jihong likes mathematics and physics. Although Zeng Guofan knows nothing about it, he also does it very well. He can try his best to understand and learn a little bit. Such a father is worthy of being a truly "hard-working" father. Under the influence of Zeng Guofan, Zeng Jize will always teach his children English, mathematics, and music. , and also taught them to practice calligraphy, write poems, and explain classics and history. No matter how busy they are, they should always take time to spend with their children and family every day. Therefore, this is the best family education for Zeng Guofan's descendants, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. There are many scientists, educators and social activists. Personality cultivation is helpful to his career.
First of all, being honest and consistent in appearance can be revealed to the world.
The second is respect, awe, no evil thoughts in the heart, and a dignified and dignified body.
The third is tranquility. The mind, breath, spirit, and body must be in a peaceful and relaxed state.
The fourth word is sincerity. Don’t talk big words, lies, or empty words. It is real. One is one, and two is two.
The fifth word is Heng, which means regular life, regular diet, and regular daily life. The highest state is to be "cautious and independent", and you can see the gods three feet above your head.
He kept a diary every day, examined and reflected on his words and deeds every day, and continued to put forward more requirements for himself throughout the second half of his life: to be diligent and thrifty, to be modest, to be forgiving, to be honest, Knowing destiny, cherishing blessings, etc., he strives to become a sage at that time. Many people think that personality cultivation is an empty thing, and that self-cultivation is illusory and even pedantic. However, Zeng Guofan's lifelong career, self-cultivation is the most important reason for his career success.
Zeng Guofan believes: "There are about five things in health preservation: one is to sleep and eat regularly, the other is to punish anger, the third is to abstain from sexual intercourse, the fourth is to wash feet every night before going to bed, and the fifth is to eat twice a day. Walk three thousand steps each after meals. "In the way of maintaining health, the four words "seeing", "breathing", "sleeping" and "eating" are the most important. To maintain health, you need to know the way to regulate health.
Thirteen Articles of Self-cultivation in the Early Years
1. Main Respect (be neat and solemn, fearless at all times. When there is nothing to do, the heart is in the cavity; when there is something to do, be focused and not distracted. )
2. Sit quietly (no matter what time of the day, sit quietly for a moment to regain your benevolence and straighten your life, like a tripod.)
3. Get up early (at dawn) Get up, don’t fall in love with it after you wake up.)
Four. Do not read a book twice (do not read another book until you have finished reading it. If you read here and there, you are a foreigner.)
5. Read history (check ten pages every day, even if there is something wrong.)
6. Be careful (pay attention to it all the time.)
7. Nourish Qi (qi reservoir) Dantian, there is nothing that cannot be said to others)
8. Protect yourself (abstinence in sex, labor, and diet.)
9. Write a diary (must be written in regular script, every day). Record all the past mistakes of the body, mind, and mouth one by one, without interruption throughout life)
10. Know what has happened every day (write down a story every day after tea, divided into moral conduct and knowledge. , economics, art. )
Nothing can be forgotten every month (compose several poems every month to test the amount of accumulated principles and whether the Qi is nourished or not.)
12. Writing calligraphy (Write writing after breakfast. Treat all writing and ink entertainment as your own homework.)
13. Staying away from home at night (tired by work and fatigue, please refrain from doing so.)
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