朱熹【宋】治家格言 - Homemaking Aphorism

朱熹【宋】治家格言- Homemaking Aphorism

　　黎明即起，灑掃庭除，要內外整潔。既昏便息，關鎖門戶，必親自檢點。一粥一飯，當思來處不易．半絲半縷，恒念物力維艱。宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。自奉必須儉約，宴客切勿留連。器具質而潔，瓦缶勝金玉。飲食約而精，園蔬勝珍饈。勿營華屋，勿謀良田。

At dawn, it's time to get up and sweep the courtyard, which is supposed to be clean and tidy inside and outside. At dusk, it's time to rest. Looking over if doors are locked or closed should be done in person. Every bit of gruel and meal should be considered that it's not easy to be obtained. With half a thread in silk or cotton, you should always bear in mind how difficult to derive the materials. Repairing the damage or worn-out in the house should be done before a rainstorm comes. When thirstiness is imminent, it's too late to dig a well for water. It should be economical to live your own life. Make sure to avoid holding a banquet successively for a long time. As long as they are neat and clean, utensils in earthware are better than those in gold and jade. Bite and sup should be thrifty and fine. The ordinary vegetables are better than delicacies. Do not build a pompous house and do not seek spectacularly fertile lands.

    三姑六婆，實淫盜之媒．婢美妾嬌，非閨房之福。奴仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌豔妝。祖宗雖遠，祭祀不可不誠．子孫雖愚，經書不可不讀。居身務期質樸，教子要有義方。勿貪意外之財，勿飲過量之酒。

A bevy of women who make mischief are in fact matchmakers for people to be lecherous and in pilferage . Beautiful maidservants and charming concubines are not your blessings in boudoir. Do not employ handsome vassals. Your wife and concubines should avoid by all means to wear amorous make-up. Although ancestors had long passed, the sacrifice should not be insincere. Even if offspring are not clever enough, Confucian classics should not be omitted. The attire and dressing should be simple and educating children should be in a meaningful way. Do not have an insatiable desire for an unexpected fortune. Do not drink beyond your capacity.

與肩挑貿易，勿占便宜．見貧苦親鄰，須多溫恤。刻薄成家，理無久享．倫常乖舛(chan3)，立見消亡。兄弟叔侄，須多分潤寡．長幼內外，宜法屬辭嚴。聽婦言，乖骨肉，豈是丈夫．重資財，薄父母，不成人子。嫁女擇佳婿，毋索重聘．娶媳求淑女，毋計厚奩。

Do not try to gain advantage of a street pedlar unfairly when making a deal. You should show solicitude for those relatives and neighbours who are badly off. He who is acerb in his family will not have pleasure in a long term. He who is perverse in moral human relations dies out fast.  Between brothers, uncles and nephews, those who earn more have to appease those who are in deficiency. There should be stipulated disciplines and strict ways to carry them out among the old and young. Following your wife's sided ideas to alienate your kindred makes you be a husband? Emphasize too much on money and assets and shunning the filial piety is not the behaviour of human's posterity.  Never demand a heavy bride-price in selecting a decent man to marry your daughter. Inquire for a gentlewoman to be your daughter-in-law and make no fuss of belongings of bride.

　　見富貴而生讒容者，最可恥．遇貧窮而作驕態者，賤莫甚。居家戒爭訟，訟則終凶．處世戒多言，言多必失。毋恃勢力而淩逼孤寡，勿貪口腹而恣殺生禽。乖僻自是，悔誤必多．頹惰自甘，家道難成。狎昵惡少，久必受其累．屈誌老成，急則可相依。輕聽發言，安知非人之譖訴，當忍耐三思．因事相爭，安知非我之不是，須平心遭暗想。

It's the most disgraceful for those who slander when seeing the rich and noble. It's the most despicable for those who become overbearing when meeting the destitution. One, who is in charge of a family, has to forestall any dispute and bringing a quarrel to court. The verdict of court is eventually ominous to either side. You should abstain from over-talking to conduct yourself in society. It's easy to make mistakes while talking more. Do not use your strength to bully the orphan and widow. Never do what pleases you to kill live birds for the sake of enjoyment of good foods. There would be more chance for those who are wilful and considers themselves always right to often repent and make mistakes. It is usually difficult for those who have decadence and indolence and indulge in status quo to succeed in the family economic situation. He, who often stays close to young ruffians can leave himself in trouble. He, who is modest to the experienced, can find a support when encountering urgency. If you are hasty to believe in another's words, how can you know if it is not a false accusation? You should hold back and think it again and again. When you are in a quarrel with another, how can you know if it is not your fault? You should be even-tempered to think within yourself in all fairness.

    施惠勿念，受恩莫忘。凡事當留餘地，得意不宜再往。人有喜慶，不可生妒忌心．人有禍患，不可生喜幸心。善欲人見，不是真善．惡恐人知，便是大惡。見色而起淫心，報在妻女．匿怨而用暗箭，禍延子孫

Never brood on someone to return a favour you have offered. Never forget someone who has given you a benefit. You have to make allowance for everything. When you are high up in the pictures, stop where it should stop. When someone has a happy event, you shouldn't come up with a jealous mind. When someone encounters a misfortune, you shouldn't have a sentiment of schadenfreude. When benevolence is for the sake of other's awareness, it is not a heart full of mercy. When a vice is meant to be covered up, hence it is unpardonable wickedness. One who comes up with an indecent mind when seeing woman's looks, a day of retribution will go to his wife and daughter. One who conceals his rancour and hurts another secretly will incur a disaster to his descendants.

　 家門和順，雖饔飧不繼，亦有餘歡．國課早完，即囊橐無餘，自得至樂。讀書誌在聖賢，為官心存君國。守分安命，順時聽天。為人若此，庶乎近焉。 

Having a harmonious and gentle atmosphere in your family, you still have happiness even if meals are scanty. To pay off taxes as early as possible, you will be self-satisfied of burdenless even if there is not much money in your pocket. Attending school is to learn the sage's ideal and aspiration. Being an official, your heart should go with the sovereign and country. Stay within the bounds of conduct and keep your fate at ease. Obey the seasons and the nature. If you can conduct yourself as per what indicate above, you are nearly perfect.