As the saying goes, "wealth only lasts three generations." However, according to surveys, Zeng Guofan and his four brothers' family have produced more than 240 famous talents in the more than 190 years since then, and not a single dandy.

Such a long-lasting and prosperous family is rare in ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad. The reason should be attributed to Zeng Guofan's skill in educating his children.

To sum up, there are six main contents that Zeng Guofan taught his children, namely "diligence, filial piety, frugality, benevolence, perseverance and humility".

1. Diligence

Zeng Guofan believed that "learning from hard work is the first priority" in children's education; he advocated "diligence in housework", diligent study and hard work, and opposed luxury and laziness. "Don't get tired of the little things at home." In view of the characteristics of his children who grew up in wealthy families and were accustomed to pampering themselves, Zeng Guofan particularly emphasized on guarding against arrogance and extravagance, advocating diligence and thrift, being respectful and forgiving, and never forgetting one's roots.

He believes that "home should be based on not getting up late" and never allows his children to sleep in. At home, men have to sweep the floor and plant vegetables, while women have to cook and weave. When his wife and daughter lived with him in the Liangjiang Governor's Mansion in Jiangning (now Nanjing), he required them to cook during the day and spin and weave until late at night, every day.

2. Filial piety

"Filial piety comes first among all virtues", Zeng Guofan advocated "fulfilment of filial piety and brotherhood, and elimination of arrogance and arrogance". He taught his children to respect the elderly and the young at home, and to respect their parents-in-law after they got married.

3. Frugality

Zeng Guofan believed that "the way to live at home is not to have excess wealth" and "avoid luxury in housework and advocate frugality". His daily diet is always based on meat, and he does not add any meat unless there are guests. His clothes are even more simple. He wears a blue satin mandarin jacket for thirty years. He did not allow his children to save money to buy fields, and they were not allowed to wear fancy clothes. Regarding the marriage of his children, he believes that moral character comes first, and marriage "does not necessarily have to be rich and famous."

Zeng Guofan deeply realized: "If an official's family does not accumulate money, the children will feel that they have nothing to rely on. If they are not diligent for one day, they will be hungry and cold. Then the children will gradually work hard and know how to plan, so they can be independent." That’s right. ”

Human nature has a side of indolence and indolence. If parents save enough money and materials for their children to spend, why do they still go through hardships? The result was nothing. If they have "nothing to rely on", they are forced to struggle, make a living, and establish a career, and they can become great talents.

4. Benevolence

Zeng Guofan taught his children to be benevolent and righteous in treating others, and believed that "relatives should pay more attention to feelings than things".

"When a family is ruined, one cannot be extravagant; when a person is ruined, one cannot be comfortable; when others dislike him, one cannot be arrogant." Zeng Guofan profoundly pointed out the harm of arrogance and extravagance, "Children of high-ranking officials, listen. Being accustomed to high-level discussions, being used to big situations, often belittling teachers and ridiculing people for their shortcomings, this is called arrogance. From arrogance to extravagance, then to lewdness, and to the point of doing all kinds of evil, these are all the disadvantages born from the word arrogance."

For this reason, he warned his children: "The family is too prosperous. We cannot enjoy all the blessings and use all the power. Everyone must remember these two words." "Although my family is now prosperous, we must not forget the Hanshi family. Flavor, I will try my best to avoid being arrogant and lazy. The first way to avoid being arrogant is to not yell at the servants. I will not forget the scene of selling vegetables on Jiangzi Street, and I will not forget the miserable scenery of the old days of dragging monuments and carriages in Zhushan Ao. Do you know how to be cautious in the future?"

He asked Zeng Jize, Zeng Jihong and others to practice "four lessons" every day: "Being cautious will make you feel at ease, respecting the Lord will make you strong, and seeking benevolence will make you strong. He asked his children to "respect the family traditions of their ancestors and not have any official arrogance. They are not allowed to sit in sedan chairs or ask for tea." They are not allowed to scold servants, look down on neighbors, or bully others.

5. Persistence

Zeng Guofan said: "For Gaishi people to study, they must first have ambition, secondly knowledge, and thirdly perseverance. If you have ambition, you will never be willing to be vulgar; Knowledge means knowledge is infinite, and one cannot be content with just one thing, just like a river boy looking at the sea, or a bullfrog looking at the sky, both of which are without knowledge; if there is perseverance, nothing can be accomplished without one of them." p>

"Of these three, Zeng Guofan particularly valued "persistence." He taught Zeng Jize: "Persistence is the only virtue in life. "What is constant is permanence."

"The way to learn is endless, but perseverance is always the main thing." To achieve perseverance is both easy and difficult. It's easy to say, because everyone can do it. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is difficult to persist. It is possible to persist for a few days, but it is difficult to persist for a few months. It is even more difficult to persist for a few years, a dozen years, and a lifetime.

However, only by "keeping track" can we achieve success. Effectiveness.

Based on his own experience, Zeng Guofan said to his son: "There is no distinction between age and age, and things are difficult and easy, but if you have perseverance, you can plant trees and cultivate them, and you will see them grow without hearing them." Therefore, he repeatedly asked his son to "see , reading, writing and composing, one of the four is indispensable every day."

6. Modesty

Throughout his life, Zeng Guofan was humble, sincere, prudent, and dignified. He taught his children to cultivate their moral character through this, "taking hard work as the body, humility as the use, and using humility as the purpose." Medicine is lost." In the education of his children, he repeatedly emphasized the Lord's respect and forgiveness.

He said: "The Holy Sect teaches people nothing more than the two words of respect and forgiveness." He also said: "The way to be a human being can be expressed in thousands of words, but the two words of respect and forgiveness are probably the only words." Zeng Guofan wrote " There are two words in "Xi Qiu's Poetry": "Nothing is more kind than forgiveness, and no kindness is greater than jealousy." He taught his children to be generous and tolerant to others, put themselves in their own shoes and respect others, "If you want to stand up for yourself, stand up for others, and if you want to reach yourself, reach for others."

In a letter to his younger brother, he warned: "My children and nephews must always teach them the word respect and forgiveness. Respect means that there is no arrogance or laziness, while forgiveness means that you are not willing to harm others to benefit yourself, and your intentions gradually become thicker."