朱熹【宋】治家格言 - Homemaking Aphorism

朱熹【宋】治家格言- Homemaking Aphorism

　　黎明即起，洒扫庭除，要内外整洁。既昏便息，关锁门户，必亲自检点。一粥一饭，当思来处不易．半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。自奉必须俭约，宴客切勿留连。器具质而洁，瓦缶胜金玉。饮食约而精，园蔬胜珍馐。勿营华屋，勿谋良田。

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，实淫盗之媒．婢美妾娇，非闺房之福。奴仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌艳妆。祖宗虽远，祭祀不可不诚．子孙虽愚，经书不可不读。居身务期质朴，教子要有义方。勿贪意外之财，勿饮过量之酒。

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.

与肩挑贸易，勿占便宜．见贫苦亲邻，须多温恤。刻薄成家，理无久享．伦常乖舛(chan3)，立见消亡。兄弟叔侄，须多分润寡．长幼内外，宜法属辞严。听妇言，乖骨肉，岂是丈夫．重资财，薄父母，不成人子。嫁女择佳婿，毋索重聘．娶媳求淑女，毋计厚奁。

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.

　　见富贵而生谗容者，最可耻．遇贫穷而作骄态者，贱莫甚。居家戒争讼，讼则终凶．处世戒多言，言多必失。毋恃势力而凌逼孤寡，勿贪口腹而恣杀生禽。乖僻自是，悔误必多．颓惰自甘，家道难成。狎昵恶少，久必受其累．屈志老成，急则可相依。轻听发言，安知非人之谮诉，当忍耐三思．因事相争，安知非我之不是，须平心遭暗想。

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。凡事当留余地，得意不宜再往。人有喜庆，不可生妒忌心．人有祸患，不可生喜幸心。善欲人见，不是真善．恶恐人知，便是大恶。见色而起淫心，报在妻女．匿怨而用暗箭，祸延子孙

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.

　 家门和顺，虽饔飧不继，亦有余欢．国课早完，即囊橐无余，自得至乐。读书志在圣贤，为官心存君国。守分安命，顺时听天。为人若此，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.