"The Book of Commandments" is a family letter written by Zhuge Liang to his son Zhuge Zhan before his death.
My understanding of Zhuge Liang after reading "The Book of Commandments":
Zhuge Liang practiced indifference and tranquility throughout his life, and even passed this wise saying to his son in the form of a family letter. It shows Zhuge Liang's profound wisdom in life and his eagerness for his son to become a talented person.
The main purpose of "The Book of Commandments to Sons" is to encourage sons to study diligently and be determined, to cultivate their moral character and cultivate their character through indifference and tranquility, and to avoid laziness and impatience. The article summarizes the experience of being a person and studying, focusing on the word "quiet", and at the same time attributes failure to the word "impetuous".
The original text of "The Book of Commandments":
A husband and a gentleman should cultivate their moral character through tranquility and cultivate virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. Learning requires tranquility, and talent requires learning. Without learning, there is no way to expand talents, and without ambition, there is no way to achieve learning. If you are impatient and slow, you will not be able to stimulate your essence, and if you are dangerous and impetuous, you will not be able to cure your nature. Years go with the times, thoughts go with the sun, and they become withered and withered. Many people do not take on the world, and they stay in the poor house with sadness. How will they be able to get back to you!
Translation:
A person with moral cultivation relies on inner peace to cultivate his body and mind, and cultivates his noble character through frugality and saving money. If you are not calm and have few desires, you will not be able to clarify your ambitions, and if you do not eliminate external interference, you will not be able to achieve lofty goals. Learning requires concentration and concentration, and talent comes from diligent study. If you don't study, you can't grow your talents, and if you don't clarify your ambitions, you can't achieve success in learning.
Indulgence and debauchery, negativity and neglect will not encourage the mind and spirit, and careless adventures and impatience will not cultivate one's temperament. Time flies by with time, and will gradually fades with time. In the end, they become withered and scattered. Most of them have no contact with the world and are not used by society. They can only sadly be trapped in their own poor and ruined homes. How can they regret it at that time?
Extended information:
Overall appreciation of "The Book of Commandments":
Most of the ancient family precepts condense the author's lifelong life experience, life experience and academic thoughts Not only did his descendants benefit a lot from it, but also today's people can learn a lot from it. Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, was hailed as the "incarnation of wisdom" by later generations. His "Book of Commandments" can also be said to be a family motto full of wise words and a masterpiece among ancient family mottos.
The article expounds the profound principles of self-cultivation, study and conduct, which is thought-provoking. It can also be regarded as Zhuge Liang's summary of his life, and later became a famous article on self-cultivation and determination.
The main purpose of "The Book of Commandments to Sons" is to encourage sons to study diligently and be determined, to cultivate their moral character and cultivate their character through indifference and tranquility, and to avoid laziness and impatience. The article summarizes the experience of being a person and studying, focusing on the word "quiet", and at the same time attributes failure to the word "impetuous", which is in sharp contrast.
In "The Book of Commandments to Sons", Zhuge Liang taught his son to be "indifferent" and self-sufficient, and to live in "tranquility". He encouraged his son to study diligently and be inspirational, and to work hard on cultivating himself in indifference and tranquility. Zhuge Liang taught his son not to be impetuous and behave absurdly.
In the second half of the letter, he earnestly taught his son in a fatherly tone: If a young man does not work hard, an old man will be sad. This may seem like a cliché, but it was taught by a loving father to his son. Every word is the truth in his heart and a summary of his life, so it is particularly cherished.
This "Book of Commandments" not only explains the ways and methods of self-cultivation, but also points out the relationship between determination and learning; it not only explains the importance of tranquility and indifference, but also points out the indulgence, indolence, extreme impatience hazards. Zhuge Liang not only had strict requirements on his sons in terms of general principles and was persuasive, but he also showed his subtle care for his children in some specific matters.
In this "Book of Commandments", there is the power of tranquility: "quietness is to cultivate one's morality", "without tranquility, there is no way to go far"; there is the power of frugality: "frugality is to cultivate virtue"; there is detachment The power of: "Without indifference, there is no way to make one's ambition clear"; The power of being eager to learn: "To learn, you must be quiet, and to be talented, you must learn"; The power of inspiration: "Without learning, you cannot expand your talents, and without ambition, you cannot achieve learning."
There is the power of speed: "If you are too slow, you will not be able to inspire your energy"; there is the power of character: "You cannot cure your nature if you are impetuous"; there is the power of cherishing time: "The year keeps pace with the time, and the mind keeps pace with the year." "Go away"; it has the power of imagination: "Then it becomes withered, and many people are no longer able to take on the world, and they stay in the poor house with sadness, how will they be able to reach it again"; they have the power of simplicity.
The message conveyed by this article in just a few words is much more effective than a long article. The article is short and concise, the words are fresh and elegant, the words are not refined, and the reasoning is approachable. These are the special features of this article.