On Family Ethics In Admonitions Of The Yan Family

Yan Zhitui was a renowned scholar, educationalist and thinker in our country in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. His representative work, Admonitions of the Yan Family, was honored as"the ancestor of Chinese family admonitions"by Wang Sanpin in his Research of Things in Ancient and Modern Times. He wrote this book as a guideline for his descendants, but in fact, the influence was not only confined to his family, but also to all the family education in Chinese feudal society. This book had great influence to the descendants, and also gained great honor. Wang Yue, who was born in Qing Dynasty, wrote in Dushucongjian like this,"There are 20 articles in Admonitions of the Yan Family. And each of them is of great value. Every single man should have this book in his hand as a guideline, but not only the Yan family."Admonitions of the Yan Family has great influence to many subsequent monographs on family education, such as Family Admonitions by Si Maguang in Song Dynasty, Family Admonitions for Children by Sun Qifeng in Qing Dynasty, Maxims for household management by Zhu Bailu, etc. Admonitions of the Yan Family is regarded as a foundation and representative work on family ethics in China, thus it is worthy of study.The northern and southern dynasties were periods of wars, violence and social unrest. People who lived in extreme panic and upset became increasingly dependent on families or clans. Therefore,"family admonitions"or"rules of the clan"gradually appeared in the field of ethics. In thinking, the decline of Confucianism and the emergence of Buddhism, Taoism and metaphysics became the origin of ideological theory for Admonitions of the Yan Family. In this book, the value of family ethics can be concluded in four aspects: First, he advocates that one should be cautious about what he says or does. Yan Zhitui thinks that everyone should learn from ancient books and pay attention to his behavior. Second, he is dedicated to the opinion that one should gain great achievements to bring honor to his family. According to the reality of that time, Yan Zhitui warned the descendants that they should set this opinion as their responsibility. Third, he emphasizes thrifty. Thrifty is a traditional virtue of China, so it is in Admonitions of the Yan Family. Fourth, he maintains that one should treat the monarch the same as his parents. Yanzhitui think that filial piety is of great importance to measure one's morality. However, when the country is in danger, life is worth of given up as to justice and humanity. This book describes the main principle of dealing with relationships between husbands and wives, fathers and sons, brothers, sisters-in-law and mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law and the way of value realization----education. Yan Zhitui thinks that the value of family ethics can be realized by way of moral, etiquette, talent and family tradition education.The historical background of modern society and the southern and northern dynasties has great difference. Therefore, the principles of family ethics in Admonitions of the Yan Family can not satisfy the needs of modern society completely, but there is also something perfect in it that is worth of researching and learning. This book owns certain modern revelation for constructing the relationships between husbands and wives, fathers and sons and brothers.