ing with them when they mourn, inquiring after them in illness and relieving their needs. The honorable Sing-kong always said: 'to treat men as men is a priceless jewel.'"[1]
In another place[2] he amplified this reflection, holding it to be important that his brothers and sons should remember "our grandfather's eight characters and should also carefully remember his three disbeliefs, namely, disbelief in geomancy, disbelief in doctors and medicine, disbelief in priests and magic. In my diary [he says] I also have eight fundamental maxims, namely,
In reading books consider the explanation as the fundamental thing.
In writing poems and essays regard the sound and meter as the fundamental thing.
In serving relatives regard their pleasure as the fundamental thing.
In developing one's body regard the correction of anger as the fundamental thing.
In behaviour regard not engaging in unmannerly converse as the fundamental thing.
In living at home regard not to rise late the fundamental thing.
In holding office regard not seeking money as the fundamental thing.[3]
In leading soldiers regard not disturbing the populace as the fundamental thing.
These I ponder on, and surely they are hopeful counsels and my brothers should instruct our sons and nephews to remember them without fail. Whether the world is
- ↑ Ibid., May 19, 1860. In regard to the manner of referring to his grandfather the Chinese is hard to translate, being a term of great respect and yet entirely different from our Western form.
- ↑ Home Letters, April 4, 1861.
- ↑ In the letter of April 14 he uses the word "love" instead of "seek," making the fundamental thing in office-holding not to love money.
