On The Moral Accomplishment In Zhang Ying's Family Instructions

Zhang Ying((1637-1708),also named Dunfu,Lepu,was a famous chancellor in Qing Dynasty.His books,Congxunzhaiyu and Hengchansuoyan which based on his own life experience,are an excellent explanation of Chinese tradition moral and philosophical thoughts that are regarded as one of the most important family instructions in Qing Dynasty.In these books,Zhang specifically described his thoughts on reading,healthy preserving,home ruling,filial conduct,family managing,friend choosing and getting alone with people.These thoughts reflect the ethical purport of the traditional scholar-bureaucrat's devotion to the ceremony,and the pursuit of the moral realm which is far from being indifferentThe traditional thoughts from Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism are the resources of Zhang's books.During Qing Empire Era,the ruler paid much attention on traditional family instructions.And deep respect of education was widely popular in Tongcheng area,which is Zhang's hometown.These two main reasons promoted the formation of Zhang's books.At the same time,the practice of them in Zhang's family established the basic principles of natural,modesty and prudent style in his family instructions.This paper mainly focuses on the analysis of the concept of moral accomplishment from the Congxunzhaiyu and Hengchansuoyan.The author tried to make a conclusion of the basic principles in reading,home ruling,getting alone with people and state governing in the daily life,which are diligent in studying,frugal in home-ruling,modest in treating with people and incorruptible in governing.At the same time,by analyzing the above principles of a government officer,the author tried to find the influences of a noble sentiments from a person with a good reputation to state governing in china.Thus,the author of this paper analyzed the formation of Zhang Ying's concept of morality from the three levels: the body level,the family level and the social level.Zhang's well-practiced of these thoughts,in a certain way,improved the local development of morality.Moreover,Zhang Ying's frugality of his family instructions promoted the development of social cultural.And his honest in performing official duties set a good example in the history.Studying the concept of moral culture embodied in Zhangying's family instructions is of great importance.It helps us to think about how to deal with the moral challenges during the period of social transformation,to promote the innovative transformation of the traditional moral norms,to enhance the level of civic moral cultivation,and to cultivate a good family culture.