House Instructions of Mr. Yan (Yanshi Jiaxun) - Asia for Educators ...
House Instructions of Mr. Yan (Yanshi Jiaxun) - Asia for Educators ...
House Instructions of Mr. Yan (Yanshi Jiaxun) - Asia for Educators ...
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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 <strong>of</strong> us living in dire straits. I was brought up by my loving brothers; we went throughhardshipsanddifficulties.Theywerekindbutnot exacting;theirguidanceandadvicetomewerenotstrict.ThoughIreadtheritualtexts,andwassomewhatfond<strong>of</strong>composition,Itendedtobeinfluenced bycommonpractices;Iwasuncontrolledinfeelings,carelessinspeech,andslovenlyindress.WhenabouteighteenornineteenyearsoldIlearnedtorefinemyconductalittle, but these bad habits had become second nature, and it was difficult to get rid <strong>of</strong> thementirely.Aftermythirtiethyeargrossfaultswerefew,butstillIhavetobecarefulalways,<strong>for</strong>ineveryinstancemywordsareatoddswithmymind,andmyemotionsstrugglewithmynature.EacheveningIamconscious<strong>of</strong>thefaultscommittedthatmorning,andtodayIregrettheerrors<strong>of</strong>yesterday.Howpitifulthatthelack<strong>of</strong>instructionhasbroughtmetothiscondition!Iwouldrecalltheexperiences<strong>of</strong>myyouthlongago,<strong>for</strong>theyareengravedonmyfleshandbone;theseare not merely the admonitions <strong>of</strong> ancient books, but what has passed be<strong>for</strong>e my eyes andreachedmyears.There<strong>for</strong>eIleavethesetwentychapterstoserveasawarningtoyouboys.InstructingChildrenThose <strong>of</strong> the highest intelligence will develop without being taught; those <strong>of</strong> great stupidity,eveniftaught,willamounttonothing;those<strong>of</strong>mediumabilitywillbeignorantunlesstaught.Theancientsagekingshadrules<strong>for</strong>prenataltraining.Womenwhenpregnant<strong>for</strong>threemonthsmovedfromtheirlivingquarterstoadetachedpalacewheretheywouldnotseeunwholesomesights nor hear reckless words, and where the tone <strong>of</strong> music and the flavor <strong>of</strong> food werecontrolledbytherules<strong>of</strong>decorum[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.Afterafewyears<strong>of</strong>this,punishmentwiththebamboocanbeminimized,asparentalstrictnessanddignitymingledwithparentallovewillleadtheboysandgirlstoafeeling<strong>of</strong>respectandcautionandgiveriset<strong>of</strong>ilialpiety.Ihavenoticedaboutmethatwherethereismerelylovewithouttrainingthisresultis never achieved. Children eat, drink, speak, and act as they please. Instead <strong>of</strong> neededprohibitionstheyreceivepraise;instead<strong>of</strong>urgentreprimandstheyreceivesmiles.Evenwhenchildrenareoldenoughtolearn,suchtreatmentisstillregardedasthepropermethod.Onlyafterthechildhas<strong>for</strong>medproudandarroganthabitsdotheytrytocontrolhim.Butonemaywhip the child to death and he will still not be respectful, while the growing anger <strong>of</strong> theparentsonlyincreaseshisresentment.Afterhegrowsup,suchachildbecomesatlastnothingbut a scoundrel. Confucius was right in saying, “What is acquired in infancy is like originalnature;whathasbeen<strong>for</strong>medintohabitsisequaltoinstinct.”Acommonproverbsays,“Trainawifefromherfirstarrival;teachasoninhisinfancy.”Howtruesuchsayingsare!<strong>Asia</strong> <strong>for</strong> E duca tors | Columbia University | http ://afe.easia.columbia.edu Page 3 <strong>of</strong> 6