This is a political textbook of China. Through Zeng Guofan described in the book, we can get a glimpse of the subtle and complicated "hidden rules" of China's traditional officialdom. From cynical youth to the most successful official in history, how did he "reinvent himself"? Zeng Guofan, who is completely different at the age of 30, shows the vast number of young people how a young man can move from ideal to reality, which is of great practical guiding significance. Through Zeng Guofan, readers can get a glimpse of the subtle and complicated "hidden rules" of China's traditional officialdom and the unique survival philosophy of China's characteristic system.
Zeng Guofan's ideological scholarship Zeng Guofan pursued Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism all his life, but he did not blindly worship Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism. In fact, he also borrowed from other schools of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties. Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties is actually divided into three academic schools: Qi, Neo-Confucianism and Mind.
In his political practice and military struggle, Zeng Guofan gradually saw the limitations of Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism, such as "teaching by words", "illness" or "quietness". In this case, Zeng Guofan showed a tolerant academic attitude towards the theory of mind. As for the academic debate between Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism and Wang Lu's Neo-Confucianism, he thinks that the debate between the two factions should learn from their similarities, avoid their differences, develop their strengths, take everything into consideration, foster strengths and avoid weaknesses, and promote the development of Confucianism.
Zeng Guofan also made up for the limitations of Neo-Confucianism with the resources of Qi in the generative theory, saying that "Zhang Zizhi is sincere, honest and very modest". According to the thought of Qi, Zeng Guofan believed that everything in the world was born of inner Qi, and Qi was the ultimate element that constituted everything in the world. In this sense, everything in the world is the same.
However, Zeng Guofan also believes that although the Qi of Taihe is popular, and the Qi of all things in the world is "all ears", people and things, saints and ordinary people are not the same. As far as people and things are concerned, people are full of gas, but things are only partial; An old friend is intellectual, but things are only physical. As far as human beings are concerned, the spirit of saints is clear and thick, while the spirit of ordinary people is turbid and thin.
Zeng Guofan's strategy of managing the family Zeng Guofan believes that the most important thing is the principle of filial piety among family members. Filial piety is easy to understand, that is, gratitude, respect and support for parents and elders. Xun refers to the harmony and friendship between brothers, that is, the harmony and harmony between peers. In Zeng Guofan's letters, it is generally believed that he wrote the most letters to his children. In fact, he wrote the most letters to his brother, which shows that he attaches importance to the relationship between brothers. Zeng Guofan has a famous comment that the law of family prosperity is: the world's bureaucrats are generally depressed after only one generation, because most of them are playboys; The family of businessmen, that is, the family of private entrepreneurs, can generally be passed down for three generations; Farming and reading homes, that is, families based on farming and reading, can generally flourish for five or six generations; The home of filial piety is a family that pays attention to filial piety and manages the family harmoniously, which often lasts for ten generations and eight generations.
Under the tenet of "ruling the family with harmony", Zeng Guofan also emphasized "ruling the family with diligence". In Zeng Guofan's view, this diligence has two meanings: one is that family members should be diligent and thrifty, and the other is that parents should be diligent in words and deeds. What Zeng Guopan said, he can take the lead meticulously and do a good job. For example, the eldest son likes western sociology and once liked mathematics and physics. Although Zeng Guofan knows nothing, he can try his best to understand and study hard. Such a father is the real "diligent" father. Under the influence of Zeng Guofan, Ceng Jize always personally taught children to learn English, mathematics and music, and also taught them to practice calligraphy, write poems and explain classics and laws. No matter how busy he is, he always takes time out to spend with his children and family every day. This is the best family education. Therefore, there are many scientists, educators and social activists among Zeng Guofan's descendants, great-grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.