Brief introduction of the author
Liu Xie was born in Jingzhao Huayuan (now Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province) in the late Tang Dynasty. Liu's family has been a senior official for generations, with a prominent family background. He is famous for his strict education of his children and is praised as "Liu's family law" by later generations. Liu Xie was sentenced by the book and pulled out to make a left turn to fill the vacancy. In the first year of Wende, Tang Xizong (AD 888), he took the position of assistant minister of the official department to prepare the national history, and was appointed as an ancient official. When Tang Zhaozong was promoted to prime minister, he gave up because of the eunuch's slander. Sit down and belittle Luzhou secretariat. Liu Xie maintained the traditional family style of generations. In his family instructions to his adopted son, he particularly emphasized that as a descendant of several generations of famous ministers, he is careless and easily criticized, and he must be cautious when he has the voice of leaving home. This is also an important reason why the senior officials of the Liu family did not let their descendants be insatiable and arrogant.
original text
A man of noble birth [1] is awesome and untrustworthy. A terrible person, who stands firm and does his own thing [2], is more guilty than others. Although life can be named, why can death see its ancestors underground? People who can't be trusted are proud of their noble family and rich, which is enviable. People may not believe in real art [3]; Weak defects are slightly tired [4], and ten hands compete for fingers. Therefore, people who inherit the world [5] must be diligent in self-cultivation [6] and be firm in learning. When my wife was alive, she couldn't count on others' help. She counted on others' love without kindness, and used love without form. Then she said, "Don't meet, don't rush to be virtuous." It is still the farmers who plant unscrupulously, but complain that the weather is not moist. Although they want to be generous, they can get it!
Give young people an initial training and talk about family law. Filial piety is the foundation, honesty and silence are the foundation [7], timidity is the service [8], frugality is the rule, friendship is the last thing, and loyalty is the murderer. Fat families are patient and respectful. A hundred lines are prepared [9], and it is suspected that it is not a week; Keep it a secret [10], and consider what you said or lost. If you can't remember widely, you can find a name [1 1]. Remove thrift and arrogance, and you will lose yourself [12]. Being an official will save you trouble [13], then you can abide by the law, and then you can support people. If you are not close to disaster, you can't sell it. Although Lu Lu badminton is small [14], it is not easy to remove the ointment and blood. Bi Chu used [15], but it should not be narrow-minded [16]. Worry and happiness are incompatible [17], and cleanliness and wealth are incompatible. Compared with his descendants [18], he is an upright official first, and Geng Jie Teli [19] is not afraid of being strong; And its decline, only a good attack, there is no other ability. For example, if you obey yourself first [20], you can soften up and save yourself [2 1], so you can regret it far away [22]; It is also declining, but it is dark and inferior, and what it is is unknown [23]. At this moment, it's a little small and unwise.
If the husband's notoriety hurts and humiliates himself, the first thing to lose is the family, and the loss is particularly great. He should have profound determination [24]: first, seek comfort from himself, be indifferent to others [25], help himself, but have no sympathy for others [26]. Second, I don't know Confucianism, I don't like the ancient road [27], I'm not ashamed to forget the past [28], I'm ignorant of this world [29], and the wicked are learned. Third, he who wins himself hates it, and he who kills himself loves it [30], and only enjoys playing Tan [3 1], the ancient road of Moxi. I envy people's goodness, and I envy people's evil. I am Tao [32], I am De [33], I am a disciple [34], and I am a fellow [35]. Fourth, it is easy to waste [37], and it is difficult to regret [36], taking cup as the highest goal and diligence as the vulgar flow. Fifth, eager to be a famous official, close to the right [38], a capital level, although it is possible to obtain, but the public guesses that there are few survivors. Five is not, acne gangrene [39]. Acne gangrene can make stones disappear [40], but Wucuo witch doctor can't reach [4 1]. The former sages warned [42], and the book was saved [43]; In modern times, cars are covered and smells are the same.
If husband and wife are inferior and rhetoric scholars are impetuous, they must think about their use; Those who decide to retire [44] after careful judgment have no money in their careers [45] and cannot be exploited. If you only have wisdom, you will study your worries [46], learn from them [47], strengthen your habits, be good at your business, use it, and hide it if you give it up. If you are different, are you a gentleman?
—— Excerpt from Liu Weichuan's Biography of Liu Gongchuo in the Old Tang Dynasty
To annotate ...
[1] door: that is, the door. There is a difference between the rich and the poor.
[2] standing: standing. Be yourself: make yourself virtuous.
[3] Yixing: a beautiful virtue.
[4] defect: a small defect. Mild fatigue: a subtle connection.
[5] Zhoushi: refers to aristocratic families.
[6] Self-cultivation: Self-cultivation.
[7] Mo Gong: respectful and quiet.
[8] Timidity: This can be interpreted as "caution".
[9] Bai Xingbei: Be strict with yourself in many aspects, so that you have all kinds of virtues.
[10] Keep your mouth shut: force yourself to be cautious again and again.
[1 1] Bolai: Uninvited guest.
[12] Ji Shu: Maybe; Similar; Almost.
[13] official: I am an official.
[14] Lu Lu badminton: This can be interpreted as "salary" and "salary".
[15] Chu: Chu and Chu are both wooden names, which were used as instruments of torture in ancient times.
[16] narrow-minded: do whatever you want with narrow-minded.
[17] Not opened: not * * * saved.
[18] Family: refers to the aristocratic family; Noble family; Fame.
[19] Geng Jie: aboveboard; Integrity.
[20] Xun Shun: Modesty and obedience.
[2 1] Harmony: docile and gentle.
[22] regret: regret; neglect
[23] Zong: Origin.
[24] Pool: Remember.
[25] indifference: quiet without desire.
[26] T-shirt: Gu Xi.
[27] Ancient Road: the floorboard of ancient learning, politics, principles and methods.
[28] Meng: Unknown.
[29] Xie Yi: Smile; Smile.
[30] Suicide: Flatter yourself with cunning and rhetoric.
[3 1] Play Tan: Tan is the same as Tan. Tan, talking and laughing.
[32] Soak: Soak with water.
Metaphor is gradually coming.
[33] Pin engraving: Pin, loss, engraving and harm.
[34] hairpin: the clothing of dignitaries. Borrow refers to dignitaries.
[35] Peer support: refers to basic services.
[36] Qu Geng: refers to wine.
[37] Waste: waste.
[38] Ni: Close.
[39] Acne and gangrene: A kind of sore.
[40] Bian Shi: refers to a sharp stone or stone slice made of stone, which is used to treat acne and gangrene and remove thick blood. It is the oldest medical tool in China. Li: It's cured.
[4 1] Witch doctors: witches and doctors, in ancient times.
[42] Warning: A clear warning.
[43] Fang Shu: refers to ancient books.
[44] Trial: Observe carefully.
[45] Wu: It's a mess.
[46] Shangzhi: a saint. Trouble: think about it.
[47] smell: refers to knowledge.
translate
Any family with the highest family background can only be cautious, not fearless. When we say awesome, we mean to build ourselves and make ourselves noble. If we are careless and learn from others, our mistakes will be bigger than others. Although you may be able to seek fame when you are alive, how can you face your underground ancestors after death? When we say "don't rely on", we mean that a high family status is easy to be conceited and a rich family is easy to be envied. Even if there are real skills and beautiful virtues, people may not believe them; If there are any minor faults or mistakes, many people will blame them. In view of this, the descendants of aristocratic families have to cultivate their morality sincerely and firmly attach importance to learning. In this world, I am incompetent and want to be reused by others, and I want to be loved without virtue. If I can't get it, I will complain, "I was born at the wrong time!" There is no urgent need for talents in this era! " It's like farmers plowing and sowing, but when there is no harvest or not much harvest, they always complain that there is not enough rain. Although they don't want to go hungry, is it possible?
When I was a child, I heard my grandfather talk about family discipline. He told us: we should base ourselves on filial piety, love our parents and brothers, respect tranquility, prudence, thrift, making friends as the last thing, and taking personal loyalty as the wicked. If you want to make your family rich, you must be patient and obedient. If you want to keep friends, you must be honest and respectful. Be strict with yourself in many aspects and let yourself have all kinds of virtues, also for fear of losing them; I have repeatedly forced myself to choose my words carefully, but I am still worried that my words will fail. Even if you have extensive knowledge, you should think it is not that good. Don't be so persistent in seeking fame, but get it unintentionally. Paying attention to overcoming the habits of greed, meanness and arrogance can generally reduce mistakes and mistakes. We should pay attention to honesty and integrity in official positions. Only by observing the law correctly can we talk about law-abiding and law-enforcement, and cultivate talents. Don't go near disaster for integrity, don't pursue fame and gain for integrity. Although the salary is small, don't underestimate the blood of these people; Although torture should be used, we should not do whatever we want with a narrow mind. Worry and happiness will not coexist, nor will cleanliness and wealth coexist. Descendants of some ordinary families, whose ancestors were upright, aboveboard and not afraid of power; When his family was in decline, he only liked the following offenses and had no other abilities. For example, their ancestors were humble and self-disciplined and meekly protected themselves from making mistakes; When his family declined, there were only hidden misdeeds, but he didn't know its origin. There are some subtle truths that a saint can't understand naturally.
Anyone who damages his reputation and loses his family first has the biggest fault in five aspects. You should keep in mind: first, seek comfort for yourself and don't want to be quiet. If knowing less is good for you, you don't care what others say. Second, I don't understand Confucianism, I don't like ancient roads, I don't understand old routines but I'm not ashamed. I am ignorant, but I hate and envy others for their knowledge. Third, I hate people who are better than myself, but I like people who cater to me, and I only like talking and laughing, regardless of the ancient road. I am jealous when I hear that people have good things, and I make public when I hear that people have ugly things, and the rumor mongers take advantage of it to belittle and infringe on morality and justice. These dignitaries live in the world for nothing. What's the difference between them and the service of the servants? Fourth, I like to play, drink too much, and treat drinking as a taste for both refined and popular tastes. The knowledge I have learned can easily be abandoned, and I will regret it if I understand it. Fifth, eager for fame and fortune, do everything possible to follow suit. Level 1 and a half, even if it is sometimes possible, rarely lasts long because of public speculation. In a word, these five aspects are more terrible than carbuncle. Carbuncle can also be treated with needles, which even wizards and doctors can't do. These clear warnings of predecessors are clearly recorded in books, and some failed practices in modern times are almost heard and seen one after another.
Not to mention ordinary people. Some people who study words and concentrate on their studies are anxious and worried about losing them and want to use them; Some people who can examine the variables of fate and retreat from difficulties abandon their studies and write articles indiscriminately. Only saints and gentlemen can study their thoughts, enrich their knowledge, strengthen their knowledge and refine their business. They do it when they use it, and hide it when they give it up. If you are different from these, how can you be a gentleman?
Comment and analysis
In this family training, Liu Xie warned future generations that "those who are high in the door are afraid and unreliable" and should be cautious. If the door is not high, it is easy to be criticized and there is a voice of falling home; It is easier to be proud, and it is easier to make mistakes such as being content with pleasure, ignorance and jealousy of talents. This is the most alarming. This is also the main reason why the descendants of senior Liu officials are not greedy, stingy and extravagant.
In history, there are many examples of black sheep, but today, families notorious for some "petty officials" are not uncommon. Therefore, Liu Xie's family instructions should attract the attention, vigilance, thinking and attention of parents who are government officials and children with superior family conditions.