"Result from Son"

I have received all your letters, and I would like to send you another five hundred Japanese dollars. My son has only been away for four months since he left the country. Why have all his wealth and wealth been lost with him? How strange! You are here to study. You should study hard first, and you don't need to make friends and socialize. The capital of a thousand gold is enough to last more than a year, why should it be used up before the end of four months? You are responsible for the use of it, even if you have a hundred gold a day, it will be enough for you, especially you should not be like this. If you are so wasteful, you must not be rich in food and drink, and your living room must be spacious, and you must consume something else.

Have you also tried to read "Mencius"? Those who have great potential must first work hard on their minds, work their muscles and bones, starve their skin, deplete their body, and be sleepy and weigh their minds before they can do it. do. My son relies on your father's protection and does not need this. However, he should be aware of the difficulty of drafting manuscripts and do his best to study. If this is not the case, even if you return home after studying, you will not be able to do anything. I am afraid that I will have no hope for you now! It is a small thing to use money, but it is a big thing to neglect your studies and waste your energy and waste your time. I wrote to you before to warn you that you must study hard, why have you forgotten it? Time is precious, and learning is not easy. You should know the ups and downs, and do not live up to the old man's advice.

Translation:

I already know the content of your letter. Now I will remit you five hundred yen. It has only been four months since you left the country. , why has all the money you brought with you been spent? This is indeed strange! The purpose of your visit this time is to study. Studying should be based on hard work, and you don't have to worry about making friends and socializing. The expenses you brought were enough to last more than a year. Why was it spent in less than four months? If you spend it where it should be used, even if you spend a hundred gold a day, I can afford it for you based on my financial resources. But you shouldn't be like this. What's more, such waste must not be spent on food and daily life, but must be spent on other things.

Have you ever read "Mencius"? Anyone who makes a difference must first let his heart suffer, let his body be hungry and burdened, his heart be troubled, and his thoughts will be blocked, so that he can achieve success later. It will make a difference. You rely on my father's protection, so you don't need to do this, but you should know the hardship of labor and do your duty to study. If not, even if you return to your country after completing your studies, you will definitely not be able to do anything. If you are like this now, I may have no hope for you in the future! Spending money is a small matter, but wasting your studies, wasting your energy, and wasting your time because of money is a big deal. I wrote to you before to warn you that you must study hard. How come you forgot? Time is precious, but learning is not easy. You should experience the joys and sorrows by yourself, and don't let down the old man's teachings.

Reading family letters

Zhang Zhidong’s son has been a stubborn person since he was a child and is not a reading material. Zhang Zhidong said that at best he can be a scholar until he grows old. Fortunately, the imperial examination has been abolished. , otherwise you will never become a talent in your life. It is precisely for this reason that Zhang Zhidong sent him to the Japanese Military Academy to practice martial arts. On the one hand, it "does not conflict with your temperament"; on the other hand, "the country is in the autumn of martial arts", so that his son can become a "useful talent". This can be regarded as teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. This son is also a good spender, and he may even like whoring and gambling in Tokyo, so Zhang Zhidong warned him not to "think of himself as a noble son" but to "think of himself as a poor man, a lowly soldier, and work hard to achieve his goals." Learned." "Don't be too pretentious."

“There is nothing better than a father who knows a son.” Zhang Zhidong’s reminder should not be said to be hit or miss, nor should it be said to be untimely.

Thoughts of the article

"The Book of Commandments to Sons" is a famous article about self-cultivation and determination. , the most taboo is absurd and dangerous.

About the author

Zhang Zhidong (1837～1909), also known as Xiaoda and Xiangtao. A native of Nanpi, Zhili Province (now part of Hebei Province), he was born in Xingyi Prefecture, Guizhou Province (the administrative seat is now Anlong County, Guizhou Province). In the second year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1863), he became a Jinshi and was awarded the title of editor of the Hanlin Academy. In the sixth year of Tongzhi (1867), he served as an academic administrator in Hubei. In the twelfth year of Tongzhi (1873), he served as deputy chief examiner of the Sichuan Provincial Examination, and then as Sichuan Academic Affairs. He served as an academic administrator in Sichuan for more than three years. He eliminated accumulated abuses in the academic field, rectified the scholarly atmosphere, and established the Zunjing Academy. Develop talents.

Later, he served successively as cabinet bachelor, governor of Shanxi, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, governor of Huguang, governor of Liangjiang, and minister of military aircraft. There is "Guangyatang Poetry Collection".

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Book of Commandments