Yan Shi Family Precepts: Translation and Annotations

Author: Zhuang Huiming
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Teaching Children - Part II [Explanation] Emphasizing the education of children, advocating early education or even prenatal education to cultivate good habits in children is an excellent tradition of the Chinese nation. However, it cannot be denied that indiscriminate indulgence of children and unequal treatment among them often lead to the ruin of virtue and family. Yan Zhipu uses examples from both positive and negative perspectives to illustrate the importance, methods, and purposes of educating children. The author advocates "teaching a wife when she first comes home and teaching a child when he is an infant," opposing "loving without teaching," and emphasizing that education must be strict and have the correct purpose, not to curry favor with the powerful for official positions. Although the author's educational thoughts are marked by the times, they still hold valuable insights worth.
[Original] 2.1 The most intelligent do not need teaching to succeed, the most foolish benefit little even with teaching, and the mediocre need teaching to understand.① In ancient times, wise kings had methods of prenatal education: when a woman was three months pregnant, she would move to a separate palace, avoiding evil sights and indulgent sounds, with music and food regulated by propriety.② These methods were inscribed on jade tablets④ and stored in bronze cabinets⑤. When the prince was born, even as an infant, the master teacher and master guardian would explain the principles of filial piety, benevolence, propriety, and righteousness⑦, guiding and educating him. The common people may not be able to do this, but they should start teaching when the child begins to recognize expressions and discern emotions, instructing him to do what is told and refrain from what is forbidden. By the time he is several years old, corporal punishment can be reduced. Parents who are both stern and loving will raise children who are respectful and cautious, and thus develop filial piety. I have seen in the world that parents who love without teaching often fail to achieve this; they allow their children to do as they please in eating, drinking, and behavior. What should be corrected is instead rewarded, and what should be scolded is laughed at. By the time the child understands, he thinks it is only right. When arrogance and disrespect have taken root, it is too late to correct them, even if beaten to death, the parents' authority cannot be established. Parents' anger grows daily, and the child's resentment deepens. Such children, when grown, will inevitably become morally corrupt. Confucius said, "Early habits are like natural tendencies, and habits become as natural as the human body," which is very true. The saying goes, "Teach a wife when she first comes home and teach a child when he is an infant." These words are indeed very reasonable.
[Annotations] ① "The most intelligent" four sentences: From The Analects (Yan Huo): "Only the most intelligent and the most foolish cannot be moved." From the Biographies of Yang Zhong in the Book of the Later Han: "(Yang Zhong) wrote a letter to Ma Liao, warning him: 'The most intelligent and the most foolish are unchangeable; the mediocre must be educated.'" This is the source of the text. Here, "mediocre" refers to ordinary talent. Jia Yi in On the Inadequacy of the Qin states: "Talents and abilities that do not reach the mediocre."② Prenatal education: believed that fetuses in the womb could be influenced by the mother's words and actions, so pregnant women must adhere to propriety to give the fetus a positive influence, known as "prenatal education." Jia Yi in New Book·Prenatal Education: "The queen of Zhou carried King Cheng in her womb, standing without limping, sitting without slouching, smiling without making noise, and remaining dignified when alone, even when angry without cursing—this is prenatal education."③ "Eyes do not look at evil" four sentences: Lu Bian's annotation in The GreatLiji·Bao Fu: "When Grand was pregnant with Wen Wang, her eyes did not look at evil, her ears did not listen to lewd sounds, and her mouth did not utter evil words, so the noble ones called Grand as capable of prenatal education."④ Jade tablets: Ancient jade pieces used for inscribing characters.⑤ Bronze cabinet: Also known as "bronze cabinet," a copper cabinet used to store documents or cultural relics. The GreatLiji·Bao Fu: "The method of prenatal education, inscribed on jade tablets, stored in bronze cabinets, placed in ancestral temples, and used as a warning for later generations."⑥ Coughing: Shuowen Jiezi·Kou Bu: "Cough, laughter of a child. Child, ancient character for cough, with a child radical." One version writes "child." Mencius·Jingshang·Shangxin: "Childhood children." Zhao Ji's annotation: "Childhood, the age of two or three, in swaddling clothes, knowing laughter and can be held."⑦ Teachers and guardians: Ancient officials responsible for teaching the children of the royal and noble families, with both teachers and guardians collectively referred to as "teachers and guardians." The Rites·Wang Wang's Son: "The teacher teaches him matters and explains virtue to him; the guardian is cautious in his own conduct, assists and supports him, and guides him to the right path." In the Western Zhou, there were Grand Protector, Grand Tutor, and Grand Teacher, known as the "Three Dukes"; there were also Lesser Protector, Lesser Tutor, and Lesser Teacher, known as the "Three Lesser Ones."⑧ Common people: Ordinary people, the common folk.⑨ Behavior: Lu Wenzhao said: "Behavior, that is, actions. The Guanzi·Jie Chapter annotation: 'Cloud, move.'" Cloud behavior refers to words and actions. The Book of Changes·Xi Ci Xia: "Changes in words and actions, auspiciousness in auspicious matters." Kong Yingda's annotation: "Or words spoken by the mouth, or actions done by the body."⑩ "Confucius said" two sentences: Refer to 1.2 note⑩. Childhood: Habits formed since childhood. Natural: Inborn nature.