There is no other way to seek the essence of industry than to specialize in Japan. As the saying goes, "multi-skills do not cultivate one's health" means that one is not an expert. It's not my fault that I dug many wells and didn't have spring water to drink. Brothers always try to be professional. If Jiu Ge is interested in learning Chinese characters, he doesn't have to waste his career. However, if you learn Chinese characters every day, you will definitely lose your spirits and feel them at any time.

Brother Si Liu, I wonder if they are addicted to it. If you aim at poverty, you must devote yourself to it; Designed to be meaningful. You must read a manuscript; If you are interested in writing ancient prose, you must read a collection of essays. The same is true of all kinds of poems, and so is the trial post. Never run a business, you can do anything to run a business.

Tell me, tell me! Never, never! From then on, I will write to you. Brothers have their own careers, so be sure to make it clear. Besides, I have to ask him in detail, and I can know his ambition by looking at his calligraphy. Any single-minded person must be experienced and suspicious. If you have any ideas, you can tell me and get a reward. If you have any questions, you can ask me for analysis.

-Excerpted from To Emperor Ji of Yuan Di, Wen Chengdi on September 18th, 22nd year of Daoguang.

Translation:

There is no other way to seek the depth of a person's learning, only the word "specialized". As the saying goes, "a lot of skills can't maintain a person's livelihood", that is to say, skills should be specialized. I dug many wells, but there was no water to drink. This is a careless mistake at work. In any case, your younger brothers should devote themselves to one subject, such as Jiu Ge's determination to practice calligraphy, and other aspects need not be completely abandoned. It's just that when you practice copybooks every day, you must never lift your spirits, and you can get in touch with them at any time.

As for Brother Si Liu, I don't know if you have a hobby of studying wholeheartedly. If you are interested in exploring the study of ancient classics, you must devote yourself to it; If you are interested in writing eight-part essay, you must read a person's manuscript; If you are interested in writing ancient prose, you must read a collection of works. The same is true of all kinds of poems, and so is the imperial examination poems. Never do all kinds of studies at the same time, and your mind is not specialized. If you do all kinds of studies at the same time, you will certainly accomplish nothing.

Tell me, tell me! Never, never! Since then, when you write to me, you must explain in detail the research that each of you is engaged in; And if you want to ask me in detail, it doesn't matter how long the text is. So after reading your letter, I can know what your ambition is. Anyone who specializes in a subject must have some experience and some difficult problems to solve. What are the experiences of your brothers? Please tell me and let me enjoy them with you. If you have any questions, please ask me and we will analyze them together. ...

Extended data:

Brief introduction of Zeng Guofan

Zeng Guofan (18 1 1 year165438+1October 26th-1March 872 12), whose first name was Zicheng, whose real name was Bohan. China was a politician, strategist, philosopher and writer in modern times, the founder and commander-in-chief of Xiang Army.

Zeng Guofan was born in a landlord family. He has been diligent and studious since childhood. He entered this school at the age of six. At the age of 8, he can read four books and recite five classics. At the age of 14, he can read Zhou Li and Historical Records. In the 18th year of Daoguang (1838), he entered imperial academy and studied under the military minister Zhang Mu. Reluctantly moved to a bachelor's degree in cabinet, assistant minister of does, assistant minister of military, industrial, criminal and official departments.

We are close friends with university students such as Woren, Huining Road and Guizhen, and strive for "practical learning". During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, Zeng Guofan formed the Xiang Army. After years of fighting, he turned the tide and wiped out the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Throughout his life, he pursued patience as the first priority, and advocated that everything should be frugal and not proud of being an official. He cultivated self-discipline, sought officials by virtue, put courtesy first, and sought politics by loyalty, and achieved great success in officialdom.

The rise of Zeng Guofan had a far-reaching impact on the politics, military affairs, culture and economy of the Qing Dynasty. At Zeng Guofan's initiative, he built the first ship in China, founded the first ordnance school, printed and translated the first batch of western language books, and arranged the first batch of students studying in the United States.

It can be said that Zeng Guofan was the pioneer of China's modernization. Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi were called "Zeng Hu", while Li Hongzhang, Zuo and Zhang Zhidong were called "four famous ministers of ZTE in the late Qing Dynasty". Official to the governor of Liangjiang, the governor of Zhili, the university student of Wuyingdian, the first-class Yi, posthumous title "Zheng Wen", later called "Ceng Wenzheng".

Second, Zeng Guofan's cultural scholarship

1, academic

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's integrity is sincere and honest, and he is 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.

2. Literature

Zeng Guofan inherited the independent style of Tongcheng School Fang Bao and Yao Nai, and founded the "Xiangxiang School" in the late Qing Dynasty, which is an important representative of Huxiang culture. He talks about ancient Chinese, speaks in a sonorous tone, and tries his best with inexhaustible packages; Ancient prose is profound and magnificent, which can convey the breath of Han Fu, so it has a magnificent artistic conception and can get rid of the disadvantages of Tongcheng School, which is praised by future generations.

The imperial clan of the Zeng family is Tongcheng, but it has changed and developed. As a text model, it has compiled a hundred miscellaneous notes on classics and history, which is not controlled by Tongcheng and is known as the Xiangxiang School in the world. Yan Fu, Lin Shu, Tan Sitong and Liang Qichao were all influenced by his writing style in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. He is the author of Quezhai Anthology, poems, reading records, diaries, memorials, family letters, family instructions, hundreds of miscellaneous notes on classics and history, and 18 poems. No less than 100 volumes, known as the Complete Works of Zeng, spread all over the world. He is also the author of The Way of Learning and Five Proverbs.

3. Calligraphy

Zeng Guofan's outstanding achievements in calligraphy have always been concealed by his great influence in history. Zeng Guofan's exposition of calligraphy theory can be found in his diary, letters from home and this article. First of all, he had a unique understanding of the theory of the North-South School of Calligraphy thrown by Ruan Yuan at that time. He is both in favor and criticism, and advocates both north and south. Regarding the origin of calligraphy, he put forward the theory of "Gankun Dayuan".

From avenue-masculine beauty-concentration-wonder-atmosphere, from kundao-feminine beauty-unfocused-distance-rhyme, he formed a systematic view of calligraphy theory. Zeng Guofan has been diligent in calligraphy creation all his life, and has gone through a tortuous exploration road from extensive to professional, from inheriting classicism to innovating fashion.

His diary is nearly 6.5438+0.3 million words, which is a rare giant calligraphy work in ancient China. His regular script is vigorous and powerful, and it has erected a formal calligraphy banner that inherits the Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties and combines rigidity with softness. His running script is vigorous, handsome and gorgeous. His small script and running script are models of the whole Qing Dynasty. He should be as famous as his contemporary Bao He.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia: Zeng Guofan Family Instructions

Baidu Encyclopedia: Zeng Guofan