Zeng Guofan, an important minister of the late Qing Dynasty, was honored as a first-class resolute and brave marquis, and was praised by the world as "the first minister of the late Qing Dynasty" and "a model of officialdom". He turned the tide and continued the dying late Qing Dynasty, and played a mainstay role in the "Tongguang Zhongxing" period. His scholarship and writings are excellent, and he has successfully realized the Confucian "three immortal" ideals of meritorious service, virtue and speech, and is known as "the first perfect person in China". The Zeng family, after more than 100 years, has always maintained a high prestige and has never had a loser, which is due to the inheritance and development of Confucian education ideas by Zeng Guofan.
According to the "Qing Historical Manuscript: The Biography of Zeng Guofan": "The national domain has outstanding achievements, deep knowledge, and is good at using etiquette. He was diligent and studious throughout his life, advocating Confucianism and emphasizing pragmatism, and became a "master" of reviving Confucianism after Confucius, Mencius, and Zhu Xi, and at the same time achieved extraordinary achievements in his career.
Liang Qichao highly praised Zeng Guofan in the preface to "Zeng Wenzheng Gong Jiayan Banknotes": "He is not only rare in the history of the mainland, but also a rare and outstanding figure even when looking at the world." Although he was not gifted, and was even considered to be relatively sluggish among the outstanding figures of his time, he also encountered many adversities, but he achieved immortal achievements in virtue, meritorious service, and speech, and his influence was far-reaching and unparalleled. The reason why he has achieved such achievements is that he is determined to get rid of the customs, and he is not discouraged despite all the difficulties, and does not seek quick results, but is down-to-earth, persevering, sincere, brave and persevering, and his spirit is tenacious......"
Throughout history, it can be seen that "no more than three generations" is an insurmountable curse for many official eunuch families. However, the Zeng family has produced talents from generation to generation, such as Zeng Jize, Zeng Guangjun, Zeng Guangquan, Zeng Zhaolian, Zeng Xianzhi and others are all outstanding generations. To explore the mystery of the longevity of the Zeng family, the "four wills" left by Zeng Guofan for future generations undoubtedly played a decisive role.
On March 12, the 11th year of Tongzhi (1872), when the sixty-two-year-old Zeng Guofan was walking in the company of his son Zeng Jize, he sighed: "I have experienced countless wars in my life, and I know the harm of war, which is really evil. I hope that the descendants of the Zeng family will never set foot in the military again. Suddenly, he shouted "numb feet", and then fell on top of his son, unable to speak. On his deathbed, he raised his hand and pointed to the will that had already been written on the table, which was roughly as follows:
I have been an official for more than 30 years, and I am the best official, but I have not achieved anything in my studies, and my virtue is not significant. He will pass away today, leaving four wills to teach you and other brothers.
One is cautious and independent, and the heart is at peace. The way to cultivate the mind and nature is not difficult to cultivate the mind. Knowing good and evil, but failing to do good and eliminate evil, is one's own fault. The self-deception of the heart is unknown to others. Mencius said that there is no shame in the heavens, and there is no guilt in the heart, which is the key to nourishing the heart. Therefore, those who can be cautious and independent, introspect and have no shame, but they can face the heavens, earth, ghosts and gods, and be worthy of their hearts. If a person is not ashamed, he will look calm in the face of heaven and earth, and this peace and happiness is the first way to self-improvement in life, and the important task of self-cultivation.
Second, the Lord respects the self-improvement. The heart is pure and single-minded, the appearance is neat and serious, this is the work of respect, treat people like guests, respect the people like sacrifices, this is the atmosphere of respect, cultivate oneself to calm the people, loyalty to peace, this is the effect of respect. Wisdom and wisdom are born from this. It is natural that solemnity and tranquility will become stronger and stronger, and that comfort and indulgence will become more and more lazy. If you treat people with respect and don't dare to slack off, then why doubt that you are strong?
Third, benevolence is pleasing to people. In the world, all of us have the principle of heaven and earth to form the mind, and the qi of heaven and earth to form the body, and I have the same source as all things. If you only know self-interest and do not know how to be generous to the people, and do not know how to love all things, this is contrary to the principle of homogeneity. In a high position, he has the responsibility of saving the people from fire and water, and relieving the people from hunger and cold. Reading and reasoning is the responsibility of being aware of it. Confucius taught people that there is nothing more than seeking benevolence, and the key to seeking benevolence is to "want to establish people and achieve people". Everyone wants to be self-reliant, and if they can be self-reliant, they can compete with all things. Is there anyone who is displeased with him?
Fourth, it is said that diligence is the respect of ghosts and gods. If the food and clothing of a person every day are equal to what he does, then people praise him, and the ghosts and gods also praise him, thinking that he is a self-supporter. The farmer and weaver woman work hard all year round, so that they have to count the loads of grain and several feet of cloth, and the rich and noble families are happy all day long, get nothing for nothing, eat and wear luxurious clothes, and sit back and relax, the great misfortune of the world, the ghosts and gods do not praise it. How can it last long? The sages of the ancients always encouraged themselves with hard work. For their own purposes, they will learn their skills, sharpen their muscles and bones, forge ahead in difficult situations, devote themselves to their efforts, and then gain wisdom and insight. If you seek for the world, you will starve and suffer yourself, and you will take it as your own fault that the people and thieves and robbers are not captured. Dayu ruled the water for 13 years, three times through the door without entering; Mozi Mo's top heel to benefit the world, are thrifty and self-cultivation, hard work to save the people's model. Therefore, diligence can prolong life, comfort is death, diligence can do its best, Yi is incompetent and abandoned, diligence can help the people, ghosts and gods respect it, Yi is not beneficial to people, ghosts and gods are not envious.
These four articles are what I have gained in my decades of life, and your brothers should remember and pass them on to their children and grandchildren. In this way, my Zeng family can be prosperous for a long time, and there will be talents from generation to generation.