My Excerptions of ZengGuoFan's Family Letters

ZengGuoFan(1811-1872),traditionally named ZengBohan,artistically named ZengDisheng,and admiringly called ZengWengzheng,(In the past of China,one shared several names to different purpose),was an extraordinary prime general and famous genteel official,one of the most profound and significant figures in the neoteric history of China.

During the period of late Qing Dynasty,his family was generally considered as The First Family in China by both east and west,for its grand effect to the nation and outspread fame .However,nowadays its not so sheerly renowned any more,since the eldest-son ZengGuoFan remains disputed through the time baptism,to some extent.

Nevertheless,I would rather ignore these clamorous critics here,since its just too pointless.In my opinion,ZengGuofan was just a mighty and virtuous person who bravely assumed the arduous responsibilities of a large family(his parents raised nine kids),and tried his best efforts to prosper his own family(being the eldest son)as well as the whole nation(being the prime general),whilst realizing his personal creed upon life.

As below are my excerptions of the collection of his family letters.


To his brothers:
1.I hope you all engage yourselves in the improvement of virtue and business of occupation.
(in this letter,he said"Too many arts and skills are not kind to your health,such is the badness of not being pure and clear")
2.Had good mentors been scattered around you,you would only advance instead of backsliding.
3.Occupations should be pure and focused.
(in this letter,he said"among brothers,we can reach the secrets directly,but among different generations,sometimes we should bend to inform of the feelings and ideas"
also,"your occupations in March are too various,its forbidden to be not absorbed)
4.Fullness incurs damage while arrogance incurs misfortune.
5.Among brothers,we should love each other with virtue instead of doting.
6.Man should have the weather of strength and persistence.
(In this letter,he explained that this virtue is different from perversity.With strength,one can force himself to rectify his badness,with persistence,one can succeed in it and anything else.While perversity is just aimed at winning by its adamancy without realizing beneficial efforts)
7.Abstain from arrogance and wordiness.
8.Fortune and misfortuen are decided by sky,while favour and abandon are decided by human.
(in this letter he said"our brothers should never give up the will of washing our heart and changing our face to prosper our family")
9.Practice of endeavor and moil is the root of handling affairs.
(in this letter,he said"Brother Ji,you said being excellent is not optional for any hearts,such is definitely correct.The big and small are finally decided by destiny,however in the teaching of father to kids,elder brother to younger brothers,general to soldiers,we still should promote the diligence instead of fate.")
10.From ancient time to modern time,all the mediocre talents fail for laziness;all the brilliant talents fail for arrogance.
11.Brother Ji,you gave too much travelling expenses to Jize(his son).
12.We should inherit the traditional "three not believe" of our family,not believe in medication,not believe in monks and wizards,not believe in metaphysical people.
(in this letter,he said"I still think you should stop taking medicines,and use food recipes to change your body condition)
13.Killing is to stop violence.
(in this letter,he said"its an inattention to choose such jobs for we brothers,and killing is unpreventable,so we should try to ensure the goodness of its motivation.)
14.strength and gentleness should be developed together.
(Too gentle,one would be easy to decadent and delicate;too strong,one would be easy to be broken)
15.You should keep a distance from those who are talented but evil.
16.The"vastness"is the medicine of heart disease,the "not using medicine"is the medicine of "physical disease.(MY NOTES:i think its a bit different because at that time,western medicine had not been introduced into China)
17.Its best to make efforts but not telling others to win the glory.
(In this letter,he said its best to insert efforts where the situation is cool and peaceful.)
18.Flowers are not all flourishing,and moon is not full.
(Its the good way to keep the fortune and peace.Brother,you are like summer flower,so hot and outspreading,while iam like autume trees,trying to stay cool.I think you should notice this,because its not good to spend everything)
19.Showy fame cant bring happiness,but the vast bosom is really enjoyable.
20.One should make preparations for the worst situation when living in thriving and prosperous days.
21.Being scarcely angry is the root of preserving long-term health;Making merry is the root of communicating with families.
22.When you have welfare,you should not use it up;when you have influence and advantage,you should not use it up either.
23.The sooner you withdraw when you accomplished your goal,the better position you will achieve.
24.You will have the free space to advance and withdraw,when you clear every affair in your life.
25.Endless good ministers makes a country strong;Endless good descendants makes a family prosper.
26.You should dwell in the place where winds and waves are peaceful.
27.My knowledge has not achieved anything,its hard to be not ashamed and guilty.
(In this letter,he said"Brother Cheng knows how to blow the sorrow,and Ninth Brother returned hometown to chase the happiness,good for them!")
28.You should preserve the health as well as endeavoring in study,thus being strong and willing.
(In this letter,he said"I see that most kids in our family are a bit weak,and not very progressive in study.So i would give them six suggestions here:
1.take a thousand-step walk after meals2.wash the feet for a while before slumber3.No anger in the breast4.take a peaceful sit for a while as a habit5.practise the toxophily as a habit6.Have white rice for breakfast,without spices.
And also four suggestions on the other hand:1.the point of reading a new book is fast speed 2.the point of reading an old book is to be comprehensive 3.practise the calligraphy as a habit(its like a man without clothes,a mountain without trees to be without a handsome handwriting.)4.the point of writing an essay is deep and mature thought.All these tips are derived from my whole life experience,which I understand very deep while always being regretful for not realizing them completely.I hope all my nephews should notice.)


To parents:
1.I dont support the marriage with officers' members.

To sons and nephews:
1.Three important things:Getting up early,Being persistent,Being massive(My notes:it means ones character,not the outward appearance).Getting up early is our family's tradition,being persistent is my own experience,and being massive is because i see your manner of conduction is a bit flighty and frivolous.
1.Descendants of a grand family should emulate those of a poor family.
2.Your poetry should emulate TaoYuanming and Wangxizhi.
(In this letter,he said"Recently i read the poems of you and ZhangYihou,and yours are both very classical,which makes me very satisfied.But also,you should be strict with yourselves in the future,keeping your body like a jade.I suggest that you should emulate TaoYuanming and WangXizhi's vast heart,but its forbidden to emulate Jikang and Ruanji's poetry,since they are too profligate and gay.)
3.Dear nephew,i just received your letter.And I can see your handwriting become more and more beautiful,such is my pleasure!I hope you and your brothers keep helping each other....
4.Dear son,do you still remember my htree cautions as you left?The first and last one are laziness and arrogance.You are the kid of a grand family,very arresting when you are outside.So you should be careful.Before you test,you are not allowed to communicate with officers,and neither to pass letters.Days are so hot,do take care of yourself!
5.You should pick those with a nice taste and great expectation as your friends.
6.Be diligent and frugal to last the beauty and prosperity.
7.Recently i heard you are not very well.I once told you that you should not keep bitterness in your heart any longer!Be vivacious and vivid,keep happiness in your heart,then you wont be easily sullen. Zhangwenrui's book CongxunzhaiEssays talks a lot about children education,health preservation,picking friends,enjoying flowers,birds,mountains and waters,its sheerly peaceful and happy,you should read it as a habit.And so is ShengZu's book TingxunMottos.Both of you two kids are weak,do remember to read them,and inside them are all my wishes for you.
8.Your temperament is clean and pure,which usually results in being weak and narrow.Only by a determined mind and nice taste can change the weakness into strength,and only by a vast and leisureful mind can change the narrowness into easiness.
9.You should have a special wisdom to communicate with foreigners.
10.I dont suggest making friends with officers.
11.Establishing the machine factory is very essential to make our country strong now...
12.The conferences in beijing are mostly untruthful...
13.I worried about the droughts more than my own sickness...

To Mrs OuYang:
1.Being an minister is just occasional,while running a family is my long-term design.

Testaments:
1.first time

I'm going to Tianjin tomorrow,its about the case of murdering a foreigner and burning a western church by Tianjin people.Foreigners are mostly unfriendly and sinister,while Tianjin people are usually riotous and boisterous.The case is really hard to handle.So I decide to set my testament now:Refuse to receive presents after my death,my essays are not allowed to be published,you should stop being jealous and chasing if you really impetrate virtue,every month you should limit the family expenses,look upon uncles and aunts like your parents.

2.second time
1.慎独则心安。watch your manner and mind when you are alone,then you would be peaceful and just in heart.(In this part,he said"Love virtue like love beautiful scenery,abhor vice like abhor the sick odour".)
2.主敬则身强。the main stream is to be respectful,then you would be physically strong.(In this part,he said"when you are going outside,you should feel like you are going to meet a dear and honoured guest.Its all the fortune of being respectful that your inner heart becomes pure and devotional,your appearance becomes orderly and careful.)
3.求仁则人悦。Be kind-hearted,and you with others would all feel happy.
4.习劳则神钦。Practise the labour,then the ghosts and fairies would admire and respect you.
(In this part,he said"Regardless of being noble,poor,man,women,old,young,past,modern,human beings love leisure and hate labour.But one should defend against this inclination.)

I'm old and sick,which is impossible to change back.And you,with most of my kids and nephews are a bit weak,ergo i suppose,we all should remember these four tips i wrote today,thus we could keep our family prosperous for a long period,and if the ghosts and fairies admire our efforts,then the propitious omens would naturally appear.


My Ending Notes:
The western culture has changed the whole world in the recent centuries,and nowadays I live in a hybrid China.
But i never really loved it.The capitalism,the ambitious western culture,ect,they sometimes touched me,but never persuaded me.I just know clearly that this is not the world and the life I'm really enthusiastic for.I dont care about their business and dreams albeit somtimes they seem dramatic and interesting.
As a chinese,somehow I do sense that in the deep bottom of my innermost heart and soul,there is an ancient call and naive echo eternally swinging.
Every night,it whispers secretly to me that the peaceful and degage life dwelling with the vivid nature is the only sweetness and happiness my ancestors had pointed out and pre-decided for me.
I wouldnt be surprised,if I should know that what kind of unique soul and portion of mine have been formed through its five thousand years' affectionate immersion and sweet whisper.

In the end,I would love to conclude thus:
Though western culture has changed the whole world,I would still consider my own traditional dream as the most charming prospect in my life.Its not about competition or difference,its just about a fascination upon a hometown dream.