Eight-character family precepts: pig, vegetable, fish, book, morning, scanning, examination and treasure.
Reading, growing vegetables, raising fish and feeding pigs are home-based things; Getting up early, cleaning up, sincerely practicing sacrifices and being kind to relatives and neighbors are the laws of managing the family.
Later, Zeng Guofan developed into Zeng's family precepts on this basis. He believes that "studying hard is the first priority" in children's education; Advocate "diligent housekeeping, diligent study and work, and oppose extravagance and laziness".
In view of the fact that children grew up in wealthy families and were accustomed to pampering and pampering, Zeng Guofan particularly emphasized forbidding arrogance and extravagance, advocating thrift, respecting and forgiving, and never forgetting their roots. He believes that "staying at home is based on not getting up late" and never allows children to sleep late. At home, children have to sweep the floor and grow vegetables, and wives and daughters have to cook and weave, every day.
Zeng Guofan knew very well: "If an official's family doesn't accumulate money, it will make children feel helpless. If they don't work hard for a day, they will suffer from hunger and cold, and then their children will gradually work hard and become self-reliant." The essence of human beings is to relax and hate work. If parents accumulate enough money for their children to spend, why should they suffer? As a result, I have nothing to eat.
If there is no one to rely on, they will be forced to struggle, make a living and make a career, and as a result, they will be successful. Adults will have plenty of food and clothing if they work hard and keep a good house. Children study hard and grow up healthily, so their elders can rest assured.
After living at home, the next thing to consider is how to manage the family. Diligent housekeeping, study and scientific research, we must first pay attention to two words: "early" and "sweeping".
Being early means getting everything done early, working hard and studying hard. Sweep, is to clean the environment every day, sweep away the dust of the soul.
The word "test" and "treasure" should be emphasized in managing the family. The test is: sincere sacrifice is to warn family members to sincerely sacrifice to remember their ancestors; Treasure is: being kind to relatives and neighbors is to warn family members to be kind to the people who live together. Being sincere and friendly to others is the foundation of being human and embodies a simple folk custom.
If people in a place live together, and everyone works hard, has a strong style of study, treats others sincerely and gets along well with each other, they will live and work in peace and contentment, and talented people will come forth in large numbers. Where there are talents, the country will be full of talents. With talents, the country will prosper, and the country will prosper. How can a small family not prosper? Therefore, the eight-character family motto, a family to serve, family prosperity; Every family gives it, and the country and the people are safe.
Three unbeliefs: medicine, earthly immortals, monks and witches. If you don't believe in medicine, don't be superstitious about medicine. If you are sick, take as little medicine as possible, and rely on your own resistance and strong repair ability to recover the best. Otherwise, it is very troublesome to form dependence on medicine, which is very scientific. Don't believe in the fairy, refers to not superstitious to see feng shui. Not believing in monks and witches means not superstitious about idealism in Buddhism and divination. Destiny is in our own hands, and happiness is hard earned.
Zeng Guofan's family instruction is a treasure in Chinese family instruction culture, especially Zeng Guofan's family letter, which is regarded as Zeng Guofan's greatest contribution to the world in culture. Inspired by Zeng's excellent family style and family precepts, Zeng Guofan's family has been talented for five generations, and 24 diplomats, professors and scholars have emerged, which is a miracle. The pioneer of this family motto is Zeng Yuping, Zeng Guofan's grandfather. Zeng Guofan followed the instructions of his ancestors all his life and was deeply influenced by his grandfather.