曾國藩的治家秘訣

2025年1月，在黃金時段播放紀錄片《家風與福澤——曾國藩治家啟示》，讓我們再次感受到“家”在中國人心中的重要地位。在中國傳統的思想觀念中，家是聯結個人“修身”與“治國”“平天下”的紐帶；在“晚清第一名臣”曾國藩眼里，家是個人福澤的根基所在。他在34年的官宦生涯中寫給家人的書信有1500余封，這些書信后來被整理出版，成為后人處理家庭關系時可借鑒的寶貴經驗。

In January 2025，duringa prime-time slot，Hunan Province Satellite TV airedadocumentarytitledFamilyTraditionandGoodFortune-Familial Enlightenmentof Zeng Guofan.Theprogrammehighlighted the deeplyrooted importance of family in the hearts of Chinese people.In Chinese traditional thought， the family is considered the foundation of personal cultivation， governance of the state，and ultimately， peace in the world.For Zeng Guofan， one of the most influential officials of the late Qing Dynasty，the family was wherean individual's good fortune resided.Over the course of his 34-yearcareer as a government official， Zeng wrote over1，5oo letters to his family.These letters were later compiled and published，and todaycontinue to offer valuable insights for later generations into maintaining and nurturing family relations.

清代道光二十九年 （1849年），曾國藩在給弟弟們的信中總結了福澤家庭的根本。他認為，官宦之家的子孫如果驕奢浪蕩，那么家族難以持續超過一兩代；商業大亨的家族大致能維持三四代；常人所說的“耕讀傳家”也不過能延續五六代；只有“孝友之家”才能綿延十幾代而不衰。曾國藩一生都堅持推崇孝友之家。在過世前兩年，他以遺書的形式給家里寫了封信，依然告誡家里人要堅持孝友持家。在曾國藩看來，孝友持家能夠帶來家庭祥瑞，他希望在他死后，自己的弟弟們及兒孫們能夠待叔父母如親父母、待堂兄弟如手足，一大家族人能和睦相處，福澤綿延。

In the twenty-ninth year（1849）of the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the QingDynasty，Zeng reflected on the true foundations of family affluence.He observedthatifthedescendantsofofficials are extravagant and dissolute，their family lineage will seldom outlast one generation or two，while the prosperity of a merchant family，he noted，might stretch to three to four generations.Furthermore，a household grounded in toil and scholarship may endure for five to six generations，yet only afamilyguidedby filial pietyand fraternal love could hope to thrive across dozens of generations.Throughout his life， Zeng remained steadfast in nurturing these principles within his own household.In the twilight of his life，Zeng composed a letter in the form ofa will， onceagainurginghis family touphold thevalues of filialpietyand brotherlyaffection.In his view，filial piety and brotherly love brought lasting blessings toafamilyandhewished that，afterhispassing，his younger kin，children，and grandchildren would honour their unclesand auntsas theywould their own parents;cherish their cousinsas dearly as their own limbs，and that the family， bonded by harmony， might preserve its unity and ensure the enduring flow of good fortune.

曾國藩的家書中，有關孝友的表述體現了他的治家秘訣：富養長輩和窮養兒孫，概括為四個字，即“豐”“樂”“儉”“勤”—“豐”和“樂”指富養長輩，“儉”與“勤”指窮養兒孫。“豐”和“儉”這組完全對立的概念，反映了曾國藩對待長輩和兒孫的不同態度，也是他治家思想中的要義。

In his letters to his family， Zeng's emphasis on filial pietyandbrotherly loverevealed the secretto how he governed his household. Zeng's philosophyof

indulgencetowardshiseldersandrestrainttowardsthe young can be encapsulated in fourwords：abundance， happiness，thrift，anddiligence.“Abundance”and \"happiness”speak to the affectionate care bestowed uponelders，while thevaluesof“thrift’and“diligence” should be instilled in children and grandchildren. Though“abundance”and “diligence\"represent opposing principles， they coexist within Zeng's domestic ethos， reflectinga deliberate distinction in his treatment of different generations.This duality not only illustrates hisdeferentialattitude towardshiseldersand strictness with his descendants，but also captures the very essence of his approach to family governance.

“豐”，就是讓父母長輩衣食無憂，為他們提供優渥豐厚的生活。曾國藩很舍得為父母長輩花錢，經常寄銀兩回家，還不時寄一些昂貴的補品，如鹿茸、鹿肉、高麗參、遼參等。曾國藩富養長輩的想法發自內心。他有一次教導弟弟說，科舉考試之所以可貴，就在于能掙到豐厚的俸祿用來贍養父母長輩。

\"Abundance”means ensuring one's parents live free fromworryabout foodandclothingandareprovided witha life of comfort and generosity. Zeng Guofan did not hesitate to spend money on his elders; he frequently sentmoneybackhome—acommoncurrencyin the QingDynasty—aswellasvarious tonicssuchasdeer antler， venison，Korean ginseng，and Liaodong ginseng. His devotion to his elders was sincere and deeply felt. On one occasion，he instructed his younger brother that the truevalue of the imperial examination lay in itsability to securea generous official salary with which one could support and care forone'sparentsand elders.

rooted inaspiritof\"abundance”and“happiness， offers significant insights for how modern society should approach and address the support and well-beingofourparentsand elders.

有關兒孫窮養的問題，曾國藩強調“儉”與“勤”。他曾給兒子曾紀鴻寫信：“勤儉自持，習勞習苦，可以處樂，可以處約，此君子也。”意思是說，勤儉自持的家庭，可以安貧樂道，不管貧窮或富貴，都能堅守自己的本心，這便是對君子的要求。

“樂”，是說孝敬父母長輩，除了要提供物質條件，還要關注他們的精神生活，讓他們處于順適愉悅的狀態。清道光二十三年（1843年），曾國藩在給弟弟的信中寫到，要在孝悌上下功夫。他認為，要讓祖父母、父母、叔父母“無一時不安樂，無一時不順適”。他在湖南湘鄉侯府“八本堂”中立下了八條立家格言，其中有一條就是“養親以得歡心為本”，“歡心”二字便詮釋了“樂”的精髓。曾國藩以“豐”“樂”為主的富養長輩的思想對我們現代人如何關注和處理父母長輩的贈養問題有著較為重要的啟示意義。

\"Happiness”refers to showing filial piety and respect toward one's parents and elders.Beyond providing for theirmaterial needs，onemustalso care for their inner well-being，ensuring they live in astateof easeand contentment.In 1843，the 23rd yearof Emperor Daoguang's reign， Zengwrote to his younger brother，urging him to dedicate time and energy to the practice of filial devotion.He believed that one should strive to ensure thatgrandparents，parents，uncles，and auntsalikeenjoya lifeinwhichnota single moment passes without joy，nor a single moment strays from harmony.At Babentang Hall， in the Marquis Mansion of Xiangxiang County， Hunan Province，Zeng established eight familymaxims.Amongthem，one states，“In serving one's parents，winning their joy is the foundation\"Theword“joy” here captures the essence of“happiness.\" Zeng's philosophy of caring for elders，

On the matter of raising children and grandchildren，Zengplaced great emphasison “thrift”and “diligence\"Ina letter to his son， Zeng Jihong，he once wrote：“To uphold diligence and frugality， to grow accustomed to toil and hardship， to be at ease in both abundance and simplicity-this is the mark of a true gentleman.’What he meant was thata household grounded in diligence and frugality canremaincontent in povertyand find joyina simple yet principled life.Whether in wealth or in prosperity， a principled and virtuous person can remain true to theiroriginal aspiration- this is the very standard to which a true gentleman is held.

曾國藩自己非常節儉，一件官服穿了30年，一頓飯不超過四個菜。不僅如此，他也常告誡家人要節儉。他認為，官宦之家也好，富裕之家也好，由儉入奢易，由奢返儉難，漫無節制是敗家之象。他叮囑后輩，要“愛惜財力，不失寒士之風”。曾國藩的弟弟不到40歲就吃人參等補品，曾國藩批評了他的做法，認為這樣的行為是享福太早。

Zengwas exceptionally frugal in his personal life. Hewore the same official ceremonial robe for over thirty yearsand neverallowed himself more than four simple dishes atameal.But his thrift extended beyond himself，oftenwarning his familyagainst extravagance andwaste.Hebelievedthatwhetherinanofficial’s modest household or one of opulence and wealth，while it would be easy descend from frugality to indulgence，it wouldbeprofoundlydifficulttoreturnfromindulgence to frugality.He maintained thatunchecked luxury would ultimatelybringabout a family'sdecline. Zengurged the youngergenerationtovalue their financial resourcesand toneverabandonthemodest spiritofapoor scholar.He sharply criticized his younger brother's overindulgence.Not yet forty，Zeng'sbrother had already begun taking tonics such as ginseng， leading Zeng to chastise himand remark that such indulgence amounted to enjoyinglife'scomforts far too early.

曾國藩視“勤”為治家之本，認為“家勤則興，人勤則健；能勤能健，永不貧賤”。八本堂家訓中有一條是“治家以不晏起為本”，講究的就是一個“勤”字。曾國藩一直告誡家里人，不能養成頤指氣使的官宦之氣，男人要學會種田養魚、挑糞撿柴，女人要學會織麻紡紗、做飯燒菜。久而久之，這種勤勞的風氣成為曾國藩家族延綿一百多年而不衰的治家秘訣。

believed，should learn to till the fields，raise fish，carry

manure and gather firewood;women，to spin，weave，

andcookmeals.Overtime，thistraditionofhardwork

and humility became a powerful foundation of the Zenghousehold- a wayof lifethat sustained the family's prosperityforoverahundred years.

曾氏家族家風深厚，內涵豐富。家族中有曾國藩、曾國荃這樣的晚清名臣，曾紀澤這樣的愛國外交家，也有曾紀鴻這樣的近代數學家，以及曾廣琦、曾約農等著名學者一百多年來，這個家族為國家和社會培養了240余位棟梁之材。孝敬父母、培養兒孫，是中國最悠久的傳統。然而，如何孝敬與培養并將其真正落到實處，這是一個千古難題，曾國藩的理念恰好為我們提供了一些可借鑒的思路。

The Zeng family'straditions aredeeply rootedand rich in values and meaning. From the late Qing Dynasty to modern times，the Zeng familyhas producedaremarkableline ofaccomplished figuresstatesmen such as Zeng Guofan and Zeng Guoquan; the patrioticdiplomat ZengJize; the modern mathematician Zeng Jihong，and renowned scholars like Zeng Guangqi and Zeng Yuenong. Over the past century， 家無逆子夀命長 國有賢臣安社稷

Zengregarded “diligence\" as the cornerstone of managing ahousehold.Hebelieved “when a household is diligent， it prospers; when a personisdiligent，theyremainhealthy.Withdiligence and health，one shall never fall into poverty and disgrace\" One of the family precepts in the Babentang family maxims declares thata diligent household is built upon the habit of rising early. Zeng consistently remindedhis familynevertoadopt theairsofarrogant officials who merely command others.Men，he morethan 24O individuals of tremendousabilityhave emerged from this family.Honouring one's elders and nurturing the next generation has long beena cherished tradition in Chinese culture.Yet，how to truly practice filial pietyand raise childrenwell remains a challenge for all generations.In this regard， Zeng's philosophy of household management offers us valuable insights and a valuable source of guidance.