How to Be a Parent: Zeng (Guofan) Mother's Training of Her Son Diary

Author: Li Zhigang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Don't Let Your Child Fall at the Starting Line
Every parent hopes for their children to have a perfect life. What kind of life is perfect? The signs of a perfect life are as follows: a healthy physique and sound personality; extraordinary talent; super wisdom; a happy family; harmonious interpersonal relationships; a smooth future and outstanding achievements. Undoubtedly, these standards are what everyone desires. A life is like a seed when it is embraced by the earth, it needs the earth to nourish it. For children, parents are the "earth" that provides nourishment. Under your care, this seed may grow into a towering tree, or it may become a deformed, twisted tree with gnarled branches. Therefore, when a life entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing comes into this world, it means you have embarked on a marathon of cultivating a towering tree.
Looking back through history, who truly has a perfect life? In the five thousand years of growth in the history of the Chinese nation, there have been many emperors, generals, and ministers. However, the fleeting glory of their rise and fall, as well as their minor flaws, are recorded in history books one by one. Some were talented yet lacked virtue, some had great military achievements yet lacked wisdom, and some had happy families yet mediocre careers. As your gaze wanders through the annals of history, a figure emerges from the vast river of time—Zeng Guofan. He almost perfectly possessed everything others envied: family, career, wisdom, and knowledge. He came from a small town in Xiangxiang, Hunan. At the age of six, he entered a school to study, and by eight, he could compose eight-part essays and recite the Five Classics. By the age of fourteen, he could read the Rites of Zhou, the Records of the Grand Historian, and selected classical texts. With his extraordinary wisdom and outstanding talent, he entered the civil service and was promoted seven times in ten years, rising ten ranks in total, eventually becoming a Vice President of the Imperial Academy, Vice Minister of Rites, Acting Vice Minister of War, Industry, Personnel, and Justice. His achievements in both literary and military realms were renowned, exerting significant influence in the political, economic, and cultural fields of the Qing Dynasty. He lived a smooth and perfect life journey.
Is Zeng Guofan's life path not a true reflection of a perfect life? However, genius is not innate, not accidental, nor is it achieved overnight. Talent comes from excellent guidance, scientific cultivation, and the effective education and care of parents. Without a systematic method of raising children, even the most gifted child will not become an outstanding talent and will ultimately remain mediocre, "losing himself among the crowd." Zeng Guofan's mother, Lady Lian, and his father, Zeng Linshu, are not well-documented in history, but it can be imagined that without their education, it would have been difficult to forge such a historically renowned figure. The principles of teaching children are the same throughout history and modern times. This book is a wonderful work in the form of a novel, integrating the most perfect modern family education philosophy. Through the story of how Zeng Guofan's famous parents in modern Chinese history educated and nurtured young Zeng Guofan, enabling his all-round development and healthy growth, it shows today's parents that educating an outstanding child is not only about putting in effort, giving them endless love and care, but also about paying attention to methods, emphasizing humanity and humanistic care, respecting the child, being their friend and guide, rather than their dictator, "elder," or designer.
Every individual is unique, and each person is one-of-a-kind. Give children more space and freedom, and educate them to have love, integrity, noble character, responsibility, ambition, innovative ability, and a sense of justice. This is more meaningful than a child achieving high academic scores.