曾国藩家书的思想蕴含及其当代启示

Zeng Guofan's Ideas in His Family Letters and Their Significance in the Contemporary Age

曾国藩的家书凝结了他一生的为学之道、为人之道、齐家之道,是一部读书明理、修身、齐家、立业的宝典。在为学方面,他主张读书立志第一;学贵有识有恒,须勤做笔记;反对苦读死学,提倡趣味阅读;主张博览与专攻相统一,师友切磋与切己体察统一。在为人方面,他推崇敬、恕、劳、谦;重视自立自强;倡导知行合一。在齐家方面,他重耕读、行孝悌、讲友善、崇勤俭。曾国藩家书的思想对今人的启示在于:要重视家庭价值,从战略高度思考和筹划家庭建设;重视学风建设,通过读书实践砥砺情志;重视个人修养和家庭美德建设,传承优秀家风,实现家庭永续发展。

Zeng Guofan＇s family letters embody the guiding principles on studying, behaving, and building family harmony, which he followed for a lifetime. The letters themselves are a treasury of reason from education, self cultivation, family harmony, and career establishment. In terms of studying, he advocated that reading to foster ideals was the first important task. He believed that insight and persistence were precious, and industrious note-taking in reading was necessary. He objected to studying in a mechanical way, and proposed reading for the sake of pleasure. According to Zeng, one should read extensively while specializing in a certain field. He encouraged teachers and students to learn from each other by exchanging ideas, and suggested one to see or experience from others＇ point of view. In terms of behaving, he extolled respect, tolerance, diligence, and modesty. He valued self-reliance and self-improvement as well as unity of knowing and doing. In terms of building family-harmony, he valued farming and reading, pious- ness and fraternity, friendliness, industry and thrift. Enlightenments from Zeng＇s letters are： attach importance to family value, thinking of and planning family construction at a strategic level; attach importance to the creation of positive learning atmosphere, encouraging family members to read for self-improvement ; attach importance to self cultivation, developing family virtues and passing down excellent family traditions from generation to generation.