House Instructions of Mr. Yan (Yanshi Jiaxun) - Asia for Educators ...

Primary Source Document, with Que stions (DBQ) onEXC ERPTS FRO M HOUSE INSTRUCTIONS OF MR. YA N (YA NSHI JIAXUN)awe‐inspiringrulersatcourt.Theygaveusgoodadvice,askedaboutourparticularinterests,criticized our defects and encouraged our good points ‐‐ alwayszealous and sincere. When Iwasjustnineyearsold,myfatherdied.Thefamilymembersweredividedandscattered,everyone of us living in dire straits. I was brought up by my loving brothers; we went throughhardshipsanddifficulties.Theywerekindbutnot exacting;theirguidanceandadvicetomewerenotstrict.ThoughIreadtheritualtexts,andwassomewhatfondofcomposition,Itendedtobeinfluenced bycommonpractices;Iwasuncontrolledinfeelings,carelessinspeech,andslovenlyindress.WhenabouteighteenornineteenyearsoldIlearnedtorefinemyconductalittle, but these bad habits had become second nature, and it was difficult to get rid of thementirely.Aftermythirtiethyeargrossfaultswerefew,butstillIhavetobecarefulalways,forineveryinstancemywordsareatoddswithmymind,andmyemotionsstrugglewithmynature.EacheveningIamconsciousofthefaultscommittedthatmorning,andtodayIregrettheerrorsofyesterday.Howpitifulthatthelackofinstructionhasbroughtmetothiscondition!Iwouldrecalltheexperiencesofmyyouthlongago,fortheyareengravedonmyfleshandbone;theseare not merely the admonitions of ancient books, but what has passed before my eyes andreachedmyears.ThereforeIleavethesetwentychapterstoserveasawarningtoyouboys.InstructingChildrenThose of the highest intelligence will develop without being taught; those of great stupidity,eveniftaught,willamounttonothing;thoseofmediumabilitywillbeignorantunlesstaught.Theancientsagekingshadrulesforprenataltraining.Womenwhenpregnantforthreemonthsmovedfromtheirlivingquarterstoadetachedpalacewheretheywouldnotseeunwholesomesights nor hear reckless words, and where the tone of music and the flavor of food werecontrolledbytherulesofdecorum[rites].Theseruleswerewrittenonjadetabletsandkeptinagoldenbox.Afterthechildwasborn,imperialtutorsfirmlymadeclearfilialpiety,humaneness,therites,andrightnesstoguideandtrainhim.The common people are indulgent and are unable to do this. But as soon as a baby canrecognize facial expressions and understand approval and disapproval, training should bebegunsothathewilldowhatheistoldtodoandstopwhensoordered.Afterafewyearsofthis,punishmentwiththebamboocanbeminimized,asparentalstrictnessanddignitymingledwithparentallovewillleadtheboysandgirlstoafeelingofrespectandcautionandgiverisetofilialpiety.Ihavenoticedaboutmethatwherethereismerelylovewithouttrainingthisresultis never achieved. Children eat, drink, speak, and act as they please. Instead of neededprohibitionstheyreceivepraise;insteadofurgentreprimandstheyreceivesmiles.Evenwhenchildrenareoldenoughtolearn,suchtreatmentisstillregardedasthepropermethod.Onlyafterthechildhasformedproudandarroganthabitsdotheytrytocontrolhim.Butonemaywhip the child to death and he will still not be respectful, while the growing anger of theparentsonlyincreaseshisresentment.Afterhegrowsup,suchachildbecomesatlastnothingbut a scoundrel. Confucius was right in saying, “What is acquired in infancy is like originalnature;whathasbeenformedintohabitsisequaltoinstinct.”Acommonproverbsays,“Trainawifefromherfirstarrival;teachasoninhisinfancy.”Howtruesuchsayingsare!Asia for E duca tors | Columbia University | http ://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 3 of 6