These "three sections" are actually "three precepts", which also shows that Zeng Guofan had some shortcomings at that time. In fact, Zeng Guofan was not much different from ordinary people when he was young.
The reason why he became famous all his life is that he was praised by later generations in self-cultivation and treating people, because he faced up to the original shortcomings and gradually overcame them, thus achieving his life. It is of great practical significance for us to talk about his family precepts and how he knows people and himself.
For the "three festivals" proposed by Zeng Guofan's father, Zeng Guofan later not only practiced it, but also wrote it into family instructions, requiring future generations to follow it.
Labor saving
Huangdi Neijing said: "Eat moderately, live regularly, and get something for nothing."
Zeng Guofan was deeply impressed by this. He wrote in his letter at home: "frugality, abstinence and dieting are always regarded as recuperation."
There are two kinds of people's so-called "labor": physical labor in the body and mental labor in the heart. People must not be idle, leading to physical exhaustion; A restless heart leads to mental fatigue.
Zeng Guofan has always been a diligent person. However, in the matter of health preservation, he educated his children and grandchildren to "save labor."
Save effort, not without effort, but without forcing yourself to do your best. Learn to measure your limits, or your body may be overwhelmed.
The Book of Changes says, "One yin and one yang is the Tao." The movement of the human body, like yin and yang in the world, needs balance and harmony. The way of Tai Chi is to move and give birth to Yang, while quietness gives birth to Yin, so Yang is the initiative and Yin is the master of quietness.
Long-term fidgeting will make people tired, and leisure and hate work will make people tired. If you want to be healthy, you must be dynamic and appropriate, so that yin and harmony can be reconciled.
curb one's desire
What people want, they think. Thinking too much is precisely because people's desires are too strong.
As the saying goes, "the human heart is insufficient, and the snake swallows the elephant." If you want too much, you get less. In the end, even the inner peace will be lost. How many people set themselves on fire because of too much greed and fell into the abyss.
Zeng Guofan advocated the Taoist idea of keeping in good health and called himself a "gentleman and minister". He said, "Save your thoughts, and besides your troubles, you can be called a gentleman." If you walk often and your muscles are constantly moving, I'll call the minister. ""Jun Yi "is to cultivate one's mind, and" Minister Lao "is to cultivate one's morality.
Zeng Guofan said: "When the ancients were worried, it was the time when their moral career grew. Its merit lies in openness, and its effect lies in health. " Abstinence can not only nourish the mind, but also protect the body.
For the average person, abstinence is a gradual process. Although we can't absolutely ban all human desires, we must be temperate.
Zeng Guofan believes that essence, qi and spirit are the "three treasures" of the human body, and indulgence will inevitably damage the three treasures. He said: "only rest every day, abstain from prostitution and think less." Let yourself be quiet, think less every day, and have a natural peace of mind.
fast
The Book of Changes divines: "Yi, a gentleman's diet should be moderate." It is not difficult to understand the meaning of divination alone. Diet control is the key to keeping healthy according to the laws of nature.
Zeng Guofan has always advocated eating less and having a light diet. He knows very well that the spleen and stomach are the basis for determining a person's acquired physique.
Thick paste, fat fish and big meat will damage the spleen and stomach. So the Zeng family's daily diet is mainly vegetarian, such as vegetables.
In terms of diet, Zeng Guofan formulated many rules: for example, "always eat old rice porridge to treat spleen deficiency", and drink porridge to regulate the spleen and stomach at every meal. Another example is "don't eat meat at night, stew one or two dishes in clear soup", don't eat meat at dinner, and leave a rest time for the liver and gallbladder.
"Qian Jin Fang" records: "A full night's meal will ruin a day's life." This means that eating a full meal in the evening actually reduces the life span of a day.
Zeng Guofan warned the children at home: "The dinner at night is not meat, but vegetarian, suitable for health and frugal."
Even now, Zeng Guofan's regimen was very scientific and effective a hundred years ago. Many people deliberately pursue health care, but they often ignore that the disease is three-point poison from the mouth.
Zeng Guofan wrote a letter to his fourth brother, in which he wrote: "The way to keep fit is not to take more medicine, but to eat." Advise them not to take medicine all the year round. If you take too many supplements, you will often get sick instead of improving your health. The way to maintain the body is to adjust the appetite, and tonic is harmful to people.
Zhu Yongchun, a man of A Qing Dynasty, wrote in his Family Instructions: "The food is exquisite, and the garden food is more precious." As long as the diet is concise and meticulous, even the vegetables grown in your own garden will taste different.