Chapter 26 Section 12 "Yan's Family Instructions"

"Family Instructions of the Yan Family" is a family education classic about scholar-official families born in the late 6th century AD in my country.It inherits the legacy of "Commandment Books" and "Family Commandments" since the Han, Wei and Six Dynasties, and it is the first of its kind in Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Occupy a very important position in the history of family education. The book "Yan's Family Instructions" was written by Yan Zhitui.Yan Zhitui (531-about 595 A.D.) was born in Jianye (now Nanjing, Jiangsu) in the Liang Dynasty, and his ancestral home was in Linyi, Langya.He said that he was "born in troubled times, grew up in the army and horses, wandered around, and heard a lot" ("Yan's Family Instructions·Mu Xian").He was born in a noble family and was an official for generations. He was deeply influenced by the tradition of Confucianism handed down from generation to generation.He joined Liang as an official at the age of 19, and later worked for the Northern Qi regime. He edited books such as "Xiuwendian Yulan", "Xuwenliubie", "Wenlinguan Shifu" and other books.In 577 A.D., the Northern Qi Dynasty was destroyed by the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and he was enlisted as the imperial historian of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. In 581, the Sui Dynasty replaced the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and he was called as a scholar by the Sui Dynasty.The era he lived in was the period when the rule of the feudal gentry system turned from its peak to its decline, and Chinese society was split from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the period of reunification.The power of the gentry is corrupt, and the nine-rank Zhongzheng system is about to collapse.Yan Zhitui foresaw the coming of a new system in which small and medium landlords would enter the political arena and officials would be awarded according to their talents through the imperial examinations. Therefore, he hoped that his descendants would inherit the tradition of Confucianism, so as to ensure the long-term prosperity of his family. He has been an official for generations, so he wrote the book "Yan's Family Instructions" in his later years.

Yan Zhitui experienced wars first-hand, and was a prisoner of the Western Wei regime. At the same time, he also witnessed the tragic end of many official families.He warned his children that in times of turmoil, they should learn art and study.He said: "There are those who learn art, and they will be safe when they touch the ground. Since the desolation, all the captives, even if they are villains for a hundred generations, those who know how to read and "Book of Filial Piety" are still teachers; Do not plow the fields and raise horses." ("Yan's Family Instructions Mian Xue" believes that if the family of a scholar-bureaucrat can keep hundreds of volumes of books and pay attention to family education, he will not be a "villain" for thousands of years. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the rich and noble families have The first official is an official, pampered and well-fed, full of food all day long, with no intention of doing anything, spend the day with this, and spend the rest of the year with it. Some people get one and a half ranks because of their family background, and they are self-sufficient and forget to study. In the days of Taiping, they can still be leisurely. Self-satisfied, but when wars and dynasties change, people will lose their lives and their families will be destroyed. Therefore, he believes that the family of officials should be prepared for danger in times of peace, and learn skills to protect themselves. The main way to learn skills is to read. Reading the Five Classics of Confucianism can gain the ability to live in the world. Principles and methods. At the same time, in addition to studying the Five Classics, you should also read the books of a hundred schools of thought, from which you can gain an understanding of the arts of calligraphy, mathematics, medicine, painting, archery, etc. Yan Zhitui believes that the country's There are no more than six types of ministers, namely, the ministers of the court, the ministers of literature and history, the ministers of the military, the ministers of Fanping (defense), the ministers of mission (diplomacy), and the ministers of Xingzao (civil engineering). These six types of officials should all be Only with professional education can one be specialized in a job. Otherwise, when there are important national affairs, discussing gains and losses will open one's mouth like a cloud. Regarding the education of talents and skills, Yan Zhitui believes that the family of officials should break the The view of the family, walk out of the high-walled compound, let the children of the nobles get in touch with the farmers, businessmen and merchants of the lower class, and seek them out. In his opinion, the commoner ministers who made a difference in history came from the people, knew the sufferings of the people, and knew the farming Therefore, they showed a superhuman ability to govern the country. On the contrary, the sons of scholar-bureaucrats are "ashamed of being involved in agriculture and business, and ashamed of working as a craftsman. They can't wear letters when they shoot, but they only remember names with pens. They are full of food and drunk." How can such waste Can we not become a "little man" in the turbulent years and go to plow the fields and raise cattle? ("Yan's Family Instructions Mian Xue")

In "Yan's Family Instructions Teaching Children", Yan Zhitui put forward the idea of ​​early education.He believes that children's early education should start as early as infants and young children, so that it is less natural and habitual.It will be much more difficult to teach the child if his character has been formed.He asked officials' families not to spoil their children, and not to use brutal means to control them. As a result, parents lost their prestige and had no educational effect.Parents in official families should be "dignified and kind", so that children will be fearful and filial.At the same time, parents should teach their children in accordance with their aptitude according to their age and talent. For example, they should pay attention to learning the language well in childhood, speaking standard and civilized words, and the elders should set an example for their children. All dirty words and rude words Forbidden not to speak.After they grow up, they should be taught poetry and books, learn talents, and cultivate morality.