According to the "ten halls" of the Zeng family, in fact, the Zeng family only built eight halls, and the Huazhutang was just a temporary residence, and then it was sold. Wenjitang is Guanzhuang, and the Zeng family once owned these two houses, so it is called "Ten Halls". The eight halls built by the Zeng family can be divided into two categories: one is built by their grandparents, which is small in scale and simple in structure, such as Bai Yutang and Jindian, which were rebuilt and expanded by the Zeng brothers and look magnificent; The other type was built after the Zeng brothers made their fortune, with a large scale and complex structure, such as the Houfu Hall, Award Hall, Dunde Hall, Youheng Hall, Wanyitang Hall and Xiushan Hall.
Zeng Guofan's request for a house is "not gorgeous". Why are the houses of the Tseng brothers all resplendent and magnificent? It originated in the second year of Xianfeng (1852). His mother, Mrs. Jiang, died of illness. She opened a memorial hall for her mother. Chinese food has only 240 seats, and it was finished after only three times. Her father Xianfeng died in seven years, and she wanted a boiled water banquet. The five brothers are ashamed and eager to buy Tianyu widely. After defeating the Taiping Army, the Zeng family "opened Nanjing to make a fortune" and began to build large-scale buildings in their hometown.
There are many allusions to the name of the hall, which have far-reaching significance.
Bai Yutang, formerly known as Baiyangping, was a family member who rebuilt the old house in the 28th year of Daoguang (1848). Zeng Guofan was promoted to a cabinet scholar and assistant minister of does, Daoguang was promoted to right assistant minister of does in twenty-nine years, and later transferred to right assistant minister of Ministry of War. Ten years later, he was promoted to the tenth level, which is suitable for the rebuilt Baiyangping style, showing the family's glory and commemorating his son Zeng Guofan's brilliant career. Zeng Linshu, the father of Zeng Guofan, renamed the original Bai Yang Ping "Bai Yutang", meaning "white jade is your hall". There is a poem in Yuefu's poetry collection: "Gold is your door and white jade is your hall", which is about a rich family. After Zeng Guofan's separation, Bai Yutang was the property of his sixth brother, and Zeng Guofan's uncle had no heir, thinking that he was an heir.
Originally named Yaoli, Huangjintang is also called Xiayaoli because it is different from Xiushantang. Xiushan Hall was named Shangyaoli and rebuilt in the 28th year of Daoguang (1849). In November of the first year of Xianfeng, Huang Zengguo lived in a fire and was named the Golden Hall, which means "gold is the monarch's gate", and it is also a "rich family" with Bai Yutang. It also means that the family is declining and the status is prominent. Zeng's father separated Zeng Guofan and got the Golden Hall, which Zeng Guofan inherited from his parents.
Xiushan Hall is the smallest of the eight halls built by Zeng family, which won the praise of Zeng Guofan. Xiushantang's house layout is novel and unique, which is different from the lock-shaped Bai Yutang and Golden Hall, and also different from the quadrangle-style rich hall. It's like two F-shaped ancient bronze keys connected with the main hall as the symmetry axis! Zeng Guofan's fourth brother, Zeng Guohuang, moved from Jindian to Xiushan Temple in the winter of the ninth year of Xianfeng (1859). Zeng Guofan gave Lian Yue a letter in Xianfeng 10 on February 24 th: "Diligent housekeeping has a good reputation in the hard-working township party; Straight and forbearing, celebrating children and grandchildren. "Xiushantang takes the meaning of' accumulating virtue and doing good' to name its hall. Zeng Guohuang never went out to be an official in his life, nor did he go out to fight Zeng Guofan. He just co-organized Yong Tuan in the countryside and lived in the countryside for a long time. Bai Yutang, Jindian, Xiushan Hall, Wannian Hall, Youheng Hall and Fuhou Hall were all built mainly with him.
Dundetang, Jinshantang and Zhuting Gongci, collectively known as Dafu Land, are located in Daping Village, Ye He Town. Dafu is the most magnificent building in Zeng's manor. The total length of the homestead is more than 600 meters, the width is about 230 meters, and the total area is more than10.3 million square meters. The three buildings are similar in structure, with three vertical and six horizontal positions, so they are called "nine vertical and eighteen halls". Dunde Hall and Jinshan Hall are the third entrance on the right, and there is a big empty flat in front of the study. Dafu Land was designed by Ceng Guoquan, the ninth brother of Zeng Guofan. Under the care of Zeng Guofan, Ceng Guoquan invested and personally organized a new building, which lasted for eight years and cost a lot. Magnificent, Zeng Guofan has repeatedly written to persuade and criticize. Dafu Land is Ceng Guoquan's manor, and its scale is very brilliant. Xianfeng in December, Ceng Guoquan moved into a new house, a blessed land. Zeng Guofan presented Lian Yue in a letter to Xianfeng on February 24, 10: "filial piety and faithfulness must have the status of a big family; Learn from teachers and learn from friends. " The names of Dundetang and Jinshantang mean to accumulate virtue and do good deeds, which will be rewarded by future generations. "Dunde" means "courtesy and moderation". The reason why the world is so big is that small virtues flow and great virtues are Dunhua. "It's about being virtuous, honoring our ancestors and sealing our wives and children. Ceng Guoquan's real purpose is to be famous in the countryside. The main project of Dr. Brother was completed in Xianfeng nine years. After Dafu was completed, urged by Zeng Guofan, Ceng Guoquan rushed to the barracks. Dundetang handed the management right to the eldest son Zeng Jirui, and the Certificate Hall handed the management right to the second son Zeng Jiguan. Tongzhi three years (1864), after the Xiang army invaded Nanjing, Ceng Guoquan asked for leave to go home and went to the doctor's brother.
Youhengtang is located in Xinjian Village, Lianhua Town. It is the manor of Zeng Guofan's younger brother Zeng. There was no son, and the second son was the heir to the canal. Youhengtang was funded by Zeng Guofan and was built at home on behalf of Zeng. He died in Nanjing military camp in the first year of Tongzhi (1862). He made great contributions in the Anhui War and in the conquest of Anqing, and he has never been rewarded. The house layout of Youhengtang is exquisite, which consists of 72 houses, one side is horizontal, four horizontal lines, an empty flat, a flag platform, a pond and a fence. The name of Youhengtang is based on Zeng Guofan's teaching of "determination to be noble and persistent". Zeng Guofan expected his sons and nephews to become talents, "old habits die hard", and often took "sons and nephews have perseverance in reading" as comfort. In the second year of Tongzhi (1863), Zeng Guofan taught his nephew Ji Rui in a letter on December 24, saying, "Diligence is first to get up early, and second is perseverance ... leaders have no seeds, and saints have no seeds. As long as people are willing to make up their minds, they can do it." Youhengtang was built in Tongzhi two years ago.
Fuhoutang is located at the foot of Aoyu Mountain in Futuo Village, Ye He Town, Shuangfeng County. This used to be Zeng's manor house. As early as the seventh year of Xianfeng, Zeng Guofan was at home because of his father's death, and Yun Si Pavilion was built here. Within the wall of Fuhoutang, there is an independent two-story building with a building area of more than 500 square meters. When we separated, we gave Futuo Zengfu to Ceng Guoquan. In the autumn of Tongzhi four years (1865), Zeng Guofan, who had no intention of being an official for life, was ready to mobilize his family to "get married and start a career" before retiring. Because his wife, Mrs. Ouyang, was "uneasy" about the former residence of Jindian, his son was ordered to "go back to Hunan to ask for uncle's affairs" and was transferred to Fu Tuo Zhuang House, and then to Zeng,, and. Fuhoutang covers an area of more than 40,000 square meters, with a construction area of nearly 10,000 square meters. It is a typical cloister-style building complex in Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is symmetrical along the midline. There are various buildings in it, including Babentang, Qiujuezhai, Guipuzhai, Shifang Pavilion, Yun Si Pavilion, Babaotai, Jiyuan, Zizao, Qiting and Library. The main building of Fuhou Hall, also known as Baben Hall, was renovated and completed in July of the fifth year of Tongzhi. The construction of Eight Chapels is based on Zeng Guofan's "house is not gorgeous, but there should be all kinds of bamboo and cypress, so it's just as well to leave more vegetable gardens, that is, to occupy an area". There are mountains and water in front of and behind the museum, and the venue is wide, leaving enough space for the subsequent construction of libraries and learning facilities, so it costs 7 thousand strings of money, which is very expensive. Tongzhi five years (1866), except Zeng Guofan, Zeng Fu moved into Fu Houtang's new house as soon as possible. The name of Fuhoutang should be taken from Table 4 of Hui Gao Hou Wengong of Han Shuwei: "30,000 to 40,000 households are twice as rich as a small country." Or "Guanzi": "Tian Zhai is rich and rich, and it is enough to live in it." Zeng Guofan's title of marquis, in the name of "wealth is like a man", should be worthy of the name. Zeng Guofan never lived in Fuhoutang before his death, and it is controversial to define Fuhoutang as his former residence. However, the cultural relics department believes that Fushoutang, as a large-scale architectural group in Qing Dynasty, has important historical and artistic value for the protection of cultural relics. Fushoutang is now a national key cultural relics protection unit.
Wanyitang is located in Shi Cun, a canyon in Ye He Town, Shuangfeng County, covering an area of 5,000 square meters. This is a well-preserved Zengfu manor with a typical Ming Dynasty style. After more than a hundred years of ups and downs, the charm remains the same. Wanyitang was built in the 12th year of Tongzhi (1873), which is the most magnificent residence built by Zeng Guofan's fourth brother after Jindian and Xiushantang. According to Zeng Guofan's tutor's instructions, the name Wan Yitang can "expand the world" through "farming and reading". As a result, there have been "Thousand Generations and Thousand Generations" and "Appropriate Room Code". It means harmony between husband and wife and family, passed down from generation to generation.
Huazhutang is a temporary residence and management village built in case of failure, which was later sold. Opposite Wanyitang 100 meters, Huazhutang has a famous idiom "Three Wishes for Huafeng", which means that the owner of Huazhutang hopes to live a long life, be rich and have many children and grandchildren.
Wenjitang is the Zeng family's manor, located in Planet Village, Ye He Town, Shuangfeng County. In ancient times, "Wen" was a system of rites and music. "Ji" means kindness and benefit, and the owner of Wenjitang named it "Wenji" in order to obey the etiquette and seek happiness and good luck.
Look at the Eight Chapters and Two Guanzhuang once built, and rename the * * * "Ten Chapters". Its provenance is divided into two categories. A classic from ancient books, such as Bai Yutang, Jintang, Xiushan Hall, Dunde Hall, Jinshan Hall, Fuhou Hall, Zhuhuatang and Wenjitang. One is from Zeng Guofan's family letters, such as You Hengtang and Wan Yitang. No matter where it comes from, it has far-reaching meaning and rich cultural heritage. It embodies the family of officials, scholars and rich people, and also inspires people who live at home and their descendants to make continuous progress and make a difference.
Careful site selection and magnificent architecture.
After Zeng Guofan's five brothers made their fortune, the five halls of Fuhoutang, Wanyitang, Bai Yutang, Dafudi and Youhengtang, which are the final destination, are all first-class houses in terms of geography, geomantic omen and environment, which can be said to pay equal attention to geomantic omen theory and science. There is a legend in the countryside that Zeng Guofan's previous generations loved and knew how to look at the land. After several generations' efforts, all the good houses and graves of Lotus Leaf have been divided into their own by various hands.
Fu Hou Tang sits facing south, leaning against the half-moon Aoyu Mountain in the north, and surrounded by Fu Hou Tang in the east, north and west. From a distance, the rich and heavy hall is like sitting in an armchair, with beautiful natural environment, dense trees in the back hill and towering old trees. In front of the door is an open flat land, which is a fertile land surrounded by Juanshui River. This flat land is surrounded by peaks and mountains.
Once upon a time, there was a fertile land at the foot of Fuyu Aoyu Mountain, where there were many crabs. Locals call it the crab land, and Mr. Feng Shui once called it the treasure land of "fishing to make waves" and "Dragon Tenghai". Mr. Xing Gang once said to Zeng Guofan before his death: "Can the grandson buy the field of oyster fish in the future? This is a good land of "Longtenghai". If you don't bury a grave, you have to build a house. " Father Zhu Tinggong said that this is the place where "Aoyu Shanghai Beach" lives. Zeng Guofan also intended to buy land and build houses here in his early years. Later, Zeng Fu really bought this fertile land. Zeng Guofan quietly climbed the mountain opposite the Juanshui River and looked at it carefully. He thinks this place is very suitable for building a good manor. However, the great-father gave Ceng Guoquan the fields here and the official village built by the Zeng family at that time. Four years of Tongzhi (1865), Zeng Guofan, who was going to retire, planned to build a manor in his hometown without losing the atmosphere, so he asked his son Ceng Jize to go back to his hometown and discuss with his two uncles (Zeng He). Later, at Zeng Guofan's behest, Ceng Jize and his uncle Ceng Guoquan exchanged Fu Tuo's manor house and nearby fields, which were built on the scale of waiting for the mansion and simple and generous, with both carved beams and painted buildings.
It is said in "One Thousand Hall" that Zeng Guohuang used to be a big lawn before building a house here, and people nearby often graze cattle here, which is called "Wanniuping". Later, Mr. Feng Shui visited the lotus leaf in Xiangxiang and lived with the Zeng family. I've seen this man who is very knowledgeable and keeps close to him. One day, he accompanied him to visit Yiwantang. Mr. Feng Shui said: Mr. Zeng is a local rich man, and his Feng Shui is very good. Why not build a first-class villa in China? Once asked: did Mr. Wang find a good house in the lotus leaf tour? The tourist pointed to the big lawn and said, don't you find that this big lawn is lush with water and grass? Is it really a good homestead? Then they stepped into the lawn and boarded Wolong Mountain behind the house to watch carefully. Under the guidance of Mr. Feng Shui, he bought this big lawn and built his own flower hall, which was first named Wanniantang and later renamed Wanyantang. Wanyitang is backed by Wolong Mountain, with the door facing Boluo Peak, facing south, and the door facing Jigongling with a hundred steps, which means a step-by-step promotion. In front of the main hall, a stream passes by, and there is a fertile field with a wide field of vision and excellent geographical feng shui. If you climb the opposite Boluo Peak and look at Yiwantang for a long time, a clear picture will appear in front of you, just like a stunning beauty bathing and changing clothes by a stream, with mountains as the bathing edge, farmland as the bathing bottom and stream as the hot spring for bathing. The blue tile in the hall is the blue silk of beauty, and the glass ceiling is in the middle of the roof. Approaching Wanyitang, standing in front of the spacious flat ground of the hall and looking around the fields, you will find that the mountain is not high, but it is beautiful and unique; The small bridge flowing in front of the door is like the scenery of Jiangnan water town. Turn around and take a closer look at Wanyitang. A high-rise building with carved beams and painted buildings, gray walls and tiles, cornices and arches stands in front of us. The main structure of Wanyitang is a courtyard with rows of buildings, slotted doors and various production and living rooms. There are 98 large and small houses (including miscellaneous houses), 90 umbrella columns and 6 large and small patios. It's really a great hall surrounded by mountains and waters.
Bai Yutang's location reflects the wisdom of Zeng Guofan's ancestors. Bai Yutang leans on Gaoying Mountain, with Tiger Mountain on the left and Phoenix Mountain on the right, with Bijia Mountain in the middle, Yinzi Mountain in front and a row of low hills extending in the middle. In the middle is a flat and open farmland, with a trickle winding through the countryside and surrounded by mountains, which is beautiful and magical. Overlooking Bai Yutang, it's like a baby sitting in a plush chair. If you carefully look at those ancient buildings with white walls and tiles, double-eaved gables, carved beams and painted buildings, and think about Zeng Guofan, a famous minister who came out from here, you can't help but sigh, is this a different paradise? Legend has it that the Zeng family took a fancy to the location of this house very early. The house belongs to the Xiao family, and the direction is wrong, so the Xiao family was not developed. The Zeng family played the Xiao family's idea, and finally Yuan Jigong bought the house. Later, the Zeng family rebuilt and changed its orientation.
Dafu Land is the Dunde Hall and the Commendation Hall built by Ceng Guoquan Xianfeng when he and his brother built his father's Zhu Ting Temple in Daping after defeating the Taiping Army for nine years. "One Temple and Two Halls" are collectively called Dafu Land. It is said that Dafu belonged to the Wang family in the early Qing Dynasty, which was then called Wang Mansion. Later, it was forcibly bought by a housekeeper named Xu and renamed Fu. After the brothers bought Leijiawan to build Zhuting Temple, they bought the Xu family's homestead in the way that the Xu family bought the Wang family mansion. With a total length of more than 600 meters, Zeng Dafu has an urban atmosphere. The Buddha statue is located on the Crouching Tiger Mountain, with its back against Wu Yunfeng. There is a semi-circular pond in front of the main hall of "one temple and two halls", and there are nearly a thousand acres of fertile land outside the pond. The trickle from Jiufeng Mountain winds through this farmland. On the other side of the field is a low hill, like a military tent, with a wide field of vision, surrounded by heavy peaks and picturesque trees. Originally a palace-style building with glazed tile roofs, Dafu was resplendent everywhere, surpassing the palace. Compared with the "rich hall", it is many times more luxurious. It is really a homestead atmosphere, and Huatang is bright and magnificent, just like a city. The Japanese army did not dare to rush in when passing by.
1944, Xiangxiang fell, and more than 2000 Japanese troops rushed into the lotus leaf from Xiangxiang county. On May 24th of the lunar calendar, when this Japanese army was forced from Hejiaao in Lotus Leaf to Bainiguan in Tanghe Township Office, because Xiang Ding in the township office didn't know it was a Japanese army, there was a conflict, and even the Japanese army shot back. The people knew it was a Japanese army, so they all hid. Xiang Ding, the township office, was very angry when he saw the Japanese army killing pigs, catching fish and cooking rice in Tangwan, the village head of Baini. He hid in the jungle and slowly approached the Japanese army, aiming at a Japanese army who wanted to shoot and kill one, forcing him to leave here early, so that the people's property would suffer less losses. Because of the distance, only one Japanese soldier was injured, but he exposed himself and was chased behind the township office by the Japanese army. After War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's victory, the then township head wrote "Monument to the Soldiers Killed in the July 7th Anti-Japanese War" in front of Baini Pass in the township office. The monument is about 3 meters high and 0.8 meters wide. The granite stone tablet and official script font will always commemorate the Japanese soldiers who died in the anti-Japanese national salvation battle, and also commemorate the Dingxiang people who were killed by the Japanese army when the lotus leaves fell. The Japanese army had a hearty meal. After a hearty meal, they took a shit on the food they served and peed on it. They left the battlefield for fear of being attacked by China soldiers and civilians again. From time to time, they shot at the forest with machine guns, and the lotus leaves were in a panic. When the Japanese arrived at Wangjiaao, they saw that the hall opposite was very imposing, just like a city, and they wanted to grab it. However, the horses refused to go anyway, and all the horses ran and jumped wildly. The Japanese are afraid of an ambush and dare not go. Then go up the river, walk in the middle of the lotus leaf, and pass through the cold slope depression and cliff bead mouth of Jiufeng Mountain. According to Wang, who is now over 80 years old, his father didn't hide in time because he didn't trust his family's property. He was captured by the Japanese army, and his father was very clever. He escaped from the Japanese army and returned home a few days later. The late Chen Menfu's wife Zeng (Zeng's fourth granddaughter) was nine months pregnant at that time and did not want to be persecuted by the Japanese army. She was killed by the inhuman Japanese army. After the Japanese army crossed the lotus leaf, it was desolate and people's hearts were like this. Under such circumstances, Dafu escaped a bullet, and everyone in the village praised him: Dafu is really talented and full of gas in Huatang.
Youhengtang is surrounded by mountains and waters, with green hills as the screen. The scenery is beautiful. A mountain behind the temple looks like a wooden boat, so it is called a boat-shaped mountain. Youhengtang was built under the boat-shaped mountain, facing Jiufeng Mountain. There is a half-moon pond in front of the house, and there is a small basin outside the pond. A stream originating from the cold slope passes through the 18th Bay of the mountain road and flows among the fertile fields in the basin. Swim across the bottom of the pond and join the stream originating from Jiufeng Mountain, in the Lotus Leaf Ridge. The arched arches with upturned corners, blue tiles and white walls, large cornices, window lattice and swastika all show a luxurious and elegant style. Youhengtang, formerly known as Lotus Leaf Pool, is owned by Wang Yujie. In the early years, the Zeng family invited the immortals to look at the land, and the immortals said that Lotus Pond was a treasure trove of geomantic omen. Zeng Guofan had bad blood with his younger brother and wanted to bury the hatchet by building a house for him. Therefore, his fourth brother was given a treasure hunt, so he exchanged 30 volumes of valley with three huts in this house.
Zeng's gardens are all surrounded by mountains and rivers. There are streams, ponds and fertile fields in front of the house. There are clear springs and wells beside the house. The front of the hall is flat with a wide terrace. The mountains are lush with trees and beautiful scenery. The tall and spacious building is an excellent place for them to live at home.
Attach importance to family education and family studies, and influence generation after generation.
The Zeng family's family education and family studies began with Zeng Guofan's grandfather Zeng Xinggang. Zeng Guofan has a letter from home saying: "My family has a moral education for generations, but the education of prospering Hong Kong should be kept in mind." His father, Zeng Linshu, has a good practice. He organized a home school to supervise his children, and Zeng Guofan made it very successful. In his letter to his family, he said: "The prosperity of a family depends entirely on a generation of virtuous children ... whether children are virtuous or not, six points are born and four points come from family education."
Xing Ganggong suffers from his lack of fame and is determined to make his descendants gain fame and rank among the gentry. He built an academy next to the house, which is the "old bookstore" in Bai Yutang-"Li Jianzhai", so that future generations can study here. Finally, his son Zeng Linshu was admitted to the Jinshi at the age of 37, Sun Zengfan was admitted to the Jinshi at the age of 23 and was admitted to the Jinshi at the age of 28.
After becoming famous, Zeng Guofan attached great importance to family education and study. He often hired famous Confucian scholars at home, respected teachers and taught students to solve doubts. Zeng Fu's children began to be confused at the age of four or five, and women studied until they were in their teens and twenties. Apart from embroidery and knitting, they have been focusing on their studies until they get married. Men usually study at home until they are 14 or 15 years old, and then send them to other colleges outside for further study until they become famous.
Because family education has become an important part of the family, there were academies when Zeng's manor was built. Bai Yutang is "Li Jianzhai", which was built for the prosperity of CCBA. Located within 30 meters of Zhengzhai, there are three rooms on the upper and lower floors. Zeng Guofan's father and Zeng Guofan's brother are both studying here. The "Listening to Rain" in the Golden Hall was built in Zhu Ting Hall and connected to the main house. Zeng's son studied here in his early years, and later many Zeng family members studied here. Xiushantang and Wanyitang are places where the "Southern School" read and collect books for the descendants. Xiushantang Academy is an independent four-story building, separated from Zheng Zheng. Wanyitang Academy is very imposing, with nearly ten rooms on the first floor and the second floor on the left side of the front, with tens of thousands of books. Dafu has four study rooms. According to two old people, Huang Jiufeng, who rented in Zeng's house before liberation, they both lived in Zeng's house before liberation. After liberation, they were assigned to Zeng's house and lived in Dunde Hall. Dafu has four study rooms, Zunshantang's study room is called the upper study room, also called "Jiurusong study room", and Dundetang's study room is called the lower study room. Zhu Ting Gong Temple has two study rooms. There is a study room in Hengtang, but few people know it. According to Mr. Zeng Liyan, the first garden bay on the house with Hengtang is called "Han Mo Zhai", which means reading a lot of poems. After liberation, Hengtang Bookstore was distributed to Mr. Zeng Liyan's mother-in-law's home, with three bedrooms and two floors. The old mother-in-law moved, and she used to help move. There are three Taoyuan stones in it, which are still well preserved. Fu Hou Tang has five study rooms, namely Quezhai, Guipuzhai, Fangyitang, Tian Huan Room and Yun Si Hall. In the era of underdeveloped education, private schools and family education are important places for future generations to learn culture, and so are private books. There are thirteen academies in the Zeng family, which shows the importance attached to family education and family studies. Zeng Guofan's direct line, from his father Zeng Linshu's Li Jianzhai, Zeng Guofan's Qiu Quezhai, Ceng Jize's Gui Puzhai, Zeng Ji Hong and Guo Jun's Fang Art Museum, Zeng Guangjun's Tian Huan Room to Zeng Baosun's Yun Si Pavilion. A five-generation family has six family libraries and five libraries, which is rare in the history of China. It was his attention to family education and study and his good family style that ensured it. In addition, he has a rich collection of books, which is useful information for future generations to read poetry books without wasting people.
Later generations inherited family precepts, and talented people came forth in large numbers.
Zeng Jiaxun was written by Zeng Guofan's grandfather Xing Ganggong: "Books, vegetables, fish and pigs", and Zeng Guofan developed it into a eight-character family motto: "Books, vegetables, fish, pigs, breakfast, sweeping the floor, catching up on exams and treasures". After that, the family style took on a new look, taking thrift as the foundation, and changed the material and spiritual life of rural farmers through part-time farming and part-time reading. Zeng's family was enlightened by the tutor, and then studied with famous teachers, and talented people came forth in large numbers. With perseverance, Zeng Linshu, the son of Xing Gang Gong, passed 17 times (Scholar Examination) and was admitted to Daoguang Scholar in 12 (1832), becoming the first scholar in the world. The next year, his grandson Zeng Guofan was admitted to the scholar again. In the third year, Zeng Guofan "after having obtained the examination". During the ten years of Tongzhi (187 1), in the past 40 years, 9 descendants of Xinggang Gongxia were admitted as outstanding scholars, except Zeng Guofan, the other 8 were the first outstanding scholars in the county administration examination. During Guangxu period, Zeng Chongbo, the eldest grandson of Zeng Guofan, was admitted to the scholar again.
After Zeng Guofan's brothers made their fortune, they kept educating their sons and nephews that "mortals want future generations to be big officials, and I don't want to be big officials, but I want them to be gentlemen who understand reading." Diligent and self-control, diligent and hard-working, able to have fun and make appointments, this gentleman is also. I have been an official for 20 years, but I dare not get used to bureaucracy. I have maintained a cold and simple family style in eating and living. I can be extremely frugal or slightly rich, but I dare not be too rich. ""where wealth and fame, there is a destiny, half by people, half by the day. Only learning to be a saint is your own business, and you don't interfere in your destiny. " "My sons and nephews work and study, to keep the ancestors, be careful not to have any bureaucratic airs. There is no sedan chair. Don't ask someone to pour water and tea. Pick up firewood and dung one by one. I also study from time to time. "I hope that future generations will learn wisdom, learn sages, work-study programs, and be careful not to lose any bureaucratic airs. The family style of working part-time and studying part-time, managing the family diligently has sprung up in all walks of life in Zeng's family. Today, the descendants of the Zeng family have already thrived, lasting for six or seven generations for 200 years. According to statistics of relevant people, the Zeng government has trained more than 240 outstanding talents with outstanding achievements. Many scholars are professors, engineers and generals.