The Qian Family Instructions

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Hangzhou was prosperous and was known as the leading state in the southeast, referred to as the first state in the southeast. The prosperity of Hangzhou could not have been achieved without the contributions of King Qians of the Wuyue Kingdom. The Wuyue Kingdom adhered to the policy of safeguarding the country and the people, ushering in the millennium-old history of Hangzhou as an ancient capital.

The Qian family has produced outstanding talents since the reign of the King Qians of the Wuyue Kingdom, earning the reputation of being the "millennium prestigious family, the first family of Two Zhejiangs (Wuzhou and Yuezhou)".

Why has the Qian family prospered to this day? The answer lies in "The Qian Family Instructions".

"The Qian Family Instructions" was compiled and summarized by Qian Wenxuan in 1924 based on the Eight Instructions and the Testament of King Wusu, and after being listed as the first provincial intangible cultural heritage, it was listed as the first national intangible cultural heritage in the category of family instructions in 2021.

"The Qian Family Instructions" consists of 544 characters, divided into four chapters: individual, family, society, and country, teaching descendants from small to large, layer by layer, to cultivate themselves, govern their families, govern the country, and bring peace to the world.

The chapter on individuals is the most basic and important requirement for dealing with people and matters. "The mind should not offend the heavens and earth; words and deeds should be without shame before the sages." Words and deeds should be in line with moral conscience, and one should always remember the teachings of one's ancestors.

The teachings of the sages specifically refer to Zengzi's "I reflect on myself three times a day." and Chengzi's "Four Admonitions".

"When facing wealth, one must maintain integrity." Faced with wealth, one should keep a clear mind, avoid coveting external wealth, and keep a close watch on one's own heart.

"In handling affairs, one must be decisive, and regarding one's mind, one must be generous." One should be decisive in handling affairs and have the courage to act, and one should be kind-hearted in dealing with others.

The family can be viewed as the smallest country, and the country is made up of millions of families. The family is the cell of society and the foundation of social stability. The main theme of the family chapter is to manage the people around you, especially family members.

"To create a good family, good rules must be established," as General Secretary Xi Jinping said, regardless of the changes in the times and the pattern of life, we must attach importance to family construction, pay attention to family education and family values, especially for children, parents' words and deeds will subtly influence them.

In family relationships, "parents, uncles, and aunts are respected and joyfully honored; brothers and sisters-in-law live in harmony and with mutual love." The marriage view mentioned in the Family Instructions, "Seek a virtuous wife for marriage, and do not focus on dowry. Choose a good husband for marriage, and do not covet wealth and status," also has guiding significance for today, taking personality rather than money as the primary consideration.

The chapter on society sets higher requirements based on individuals and families. "When one is poor, one should focus on self-improvement; when one is prosperous, one should help others." This chapter emphasizes social responsibility and social commitment.

"Be trustworthy with friends, help neighbors; show concern for widows and orphans, respect the elderly and care for the young. Private views should be eradicated, and public welfare should be promoted." These sentences all emphasize the importance of benevolence and are closely related to the outstanding traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

The country chapter addresses matters from the highest standpoint and is the most profound in intention, and it mainly makes demands on leading officials. Among them, the most essential is the phrase "If the gains benefit oneself only, one should not seek them; if the gains benefit the world, one must seek them. If the gains are for the present, one should seek them firmly; if the gains are for future generations, one should seek them more firmly."

"The Qian Family Instructions" is not only a precious treasure of their family, but also an invaluable treasure of the Chinese nation.

In 2021, "The Qian Family Instructions" was inscribed on the representative list of the national intangible cultural heritage.