The original text and translation of "A Letter from Zheng Banqiao" are as follows:

1. Original text:

I came to the book to urge my brother to return to the temple, and asked him that he had no friends in the temple, so He Jing lingered and forgot to return. Hey, brother, I've never been forgetful about my family, because I'm forced to. I remember being on the list of friends, and I made more and more friends. During this period, I was congenial and morally compatible, and there were few people who could learn from each other. It is a common problem for ordinary laymen to flaunt their brilliance and form a party for selfish ends. It is better to be ignorant in its promiscuity. To study in Jiao Shan is to avoid friends. My family is cold and plain, and my foolish brother can neither hold the imperial and shoot, nor be a farmer and businessman.

the only way to save the poor is to study. However, we must be concise and try to figure out the results. We don't care about Su Jizi, but we don't have to pay homage to the king of Qin for the first time. We are depressed and return to our hometown, and we have a book called Yin Fu written by Taigong. We have made a comeback day and night, and we have won the seal of the six countries, so that we can know the fame and wealth of a gentleman and enjoy it only by our own knowledge and talent. If you want to climb the dragon and attach the phoenix, you are lucky to be promoted by your peers. My foolish brother is a scholar. Compared with Su Qin, which was sealed by the six countries, it is true that he is not in harmony, but compared with Su Qin, which has returned to China, he still feels better.

the way to learn is that it is better to be private with the ancients than to ask for help from today's friends. Where classics, history, philosophy and concentration are concerned, princes and princes will rule the country and level the world. The articles of talented people and celebrities are economical, all-encompassing, and unprepared. As long as they study hard, it is easy to get a good book and enter the Ci Garden. My foolish brother planned to go to Qiu Wei three times, but he didn't leave the house for the first two sessions, so he went to Jiao Shan to study hard.

last year, I was awarded a certificate of recommendation, but I can't see the legacy because of my full quota. It is more beneficial to see the mystery book of the mountain temple. It will take another year or two to compete for the next entrance. If you win the championship by luck, it will be the merit of your ancestors. Unfortunately, it's a blessing for my foolish brother to fall into Sun Shan. If you give up literature and art and specialize in painting, you can also get both fame and fortune. Jiao Shan's trip ended at that time. Brother word.

2. Translation:

Your letter urged me to return to my hometown, and asked me why I was so attached to studying alone in the temple and had no friends, so I forgot to go home. Alas, I have never forgotten my feelings for my family. I am probably forced to do so. Since I entered the county school, I have made more and more friends every day. Among them, there are few people who are congenial and morally consistent and can learn from each other.

it is almost a common problem for ordinary people to form a party for selfish ends and solicit right and wrong. Among those who suffer from promiscuity, I would rather be my poor scholar alone. Studying in Jiao Shan is to avoid friends. Besides, my family is poor, foolish brother. I can neither ride horses and shoot arrows, nor farm and do business. Then the only strategy to save the poor is reading.

but it must be concise and thoughtful to be effective. Haven't you seen Su Jizi? The first time he visited the king of Qin, he was not appointed. He returned home in regret, took out the book Yin Fu from the box, studied it day and night, and then came out after the completion of kung fu to get the seal of the six countries. From this, he knew that the gentleman achieved fame and wealth only by his own knowledge and talent. If you want to climb the dragon and attach the phoenix, relying on peer promotion is a villain who wants to enter.

I'm a scholar, but I can't compare with Su Qin, which was sealed by the six countries. And Su Qin, who is in my hometown, still feels a little better. Besides, in the method of learning, asking for help from today's people is not as good as being private to the ancients. All classics, history, philosophy, concentration, princes and princes will rule the country and level the world. The articles of talented people and celebrities are economical, all-encompassing, and unprepared. As long as you study them carefully, it will be easy to get into the poetry garden.

I plan to go to the rural examination in autumn for three times, and I haven't left the house for the first two sessions. So I went to Jiao Shan to study hard. Last year, I was able to submit a recommendation paper (recommended to participate in palace examination) in the Enke exam, and then I was left behind because of the full quota (abandoned because the quota was full). It can be seen that studying in a mountain temple is more beneficial. I will spend another year or two working hard to wait for the next entrance. If you are lucky enough to win the championship, it is the merit of your ancestors; Unfortunately, I still lost my name in Sun Shan. That's my foolish brother. I'm lucky and unlucky.

when you give up literature and art and specialize in painting, you can have both fame and fortune. Jiao Shan's trip (trip: stay, trip) will be over by then. Brother word.

writing background of Zheng Banqiao's Letter:

Zheng Banqiao's Letter is one of the representative works of Qijia culture in ancient China, and its writing background is closely related to the background of that time. Zheng Banqiao lived in the Qing Dynasty, when the social atmosphere was closed and conservative, and the intellectuals paid attention to private morality and family ethics. In this context, Zheng Banqiao expressed his views and thoughts on family, ethics and morality through the form of letters from home.

Zheng Banqiao emphasized the importance of family in his letters. He believes that a virtuous person should pay attention to family ethics and care for his family, especially his parents, wife and children. He advocates filial piety to parents, respect for elders, and concern for the harmonious coexistence between brothers and sisters. At the same time, he also stressed that husband and wife should respect, trust and support each other, and children should be filial to their parents and inherit the excellent traditions of the family.

Zheng Banqiao deeply discussed the issue of moral cultivation in his letters from home. In his view, a person's moral cultivation is the foundation of a family. Only with noble morality and good habits can we bring long-term happiness and stability to the family. He advocates paying attention to self-cultivation, starting from daily life, being consistent in words and deeds, being honest and trustworthy, being generous to others, and being thrifty. At the same time, he also stressed the need to be self-aware, modest and prudent, and constantly learn and improve his self-cultivation level.

Zheng Banqiao also talked about family inheritance in his letters. He believes that the rise and fall of a family is closely related to the fate of every family member. Therefore, he advocated that family members should support each other, develop together and maintain family unity and prosperity. At the same time, he also stressed the need to have a broad vision and mind, pay attention to the development of the country and society, and make his own contribution to the prosperity of the family and the country.