By Epoch Times Staff

Dizi Gui (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) is a tradi-tional Chinese classic

for children that teaches morals and proper etiquette.

When referring to how one should behave in everyday life, Dizi Gui emphasises that clean-liness and thrift in one’s dressing is far more important than how “branded” one’s clothes look. “In clothes value cleanliness not fan-ciness. First follow one’s station in life; second suit the family’s financial situation.”

The ancients always regarded thrift as one of the most noble virtues in daily life. Tidiness was also considered a reflection of one’s character, and a mark of respect for others.

Such exemplars liked Zi Lu, a student of Confucius, and Prime Minister Ji Wenzi would explain why cleanliness and thrift were so important in their lives.

Zi Lu Reattaches his Hat Tassel Before Facing Death

Zi Lu (子路) was a student of Confucius and an official of the State of Wei. Despite his hot tem-per, he was a very upright person and was very careful about his

appearance. One year, the State of Wei

erupted in internal chaos as rebels gained power and began conduct-ing raids against those in the state administration. Upon hearing the news, many officials packed and fled overnight.

Despite being out of the country during the rebellion, Zi Lu chose to rush back to aid his country.

His peers tried to dissuade him from going back, saying that the situation was very dangerous and he would likely be killed if he did.

But Zi Lu replied “I receive a sal-ary for serving my country. I can-not bring myself to run away at such a time.”

Zi Lu fought against the rebels with all his might, but was far outnumbered. He was eventually injured by the rebels and his hat tassel was cut off.

Knowing that death was immi-nent, Zi Lu roared loudly, “Stop!” Stunned by the loudness of his shout, his attackers stopped.

Zi Lu then said, “If I am going to die, I should at least die in a dig-nified manner!” Calmly, he retied his hat tassel to his hat, and faced his death heroically and with hon-our.

The story of Zi Lu’s inspiring courage in the face of death has been passed down to this day in Chinese history.

The Thrifty Prime MinisterPrime Minister Ji Wenzi (季文子) was born to a family of three generations of ministers. He was a nobleman and famous diplomat of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period, serving his country for more than 30 years.

Ji Wenzi led a very simple and frugal life. He considered thrift to be the fundamental guiding rule for his conduct, and required his family to be as frugal as him. He dressed very simply but neatly, and besides the formal robes he wore in court, he did not have any other fancy clothes. Whenever he trav-elled for work, he would use a very plain-looking horse carriage.

One of his ministers, Zhongsun Ta, tried to persuade Ji: “You are the highest-ranking official, and com-mand great respect. But I heard that you don’t allow your family to wear silk clothes at home, and you don’t feed your horses with good grain. You also don’t pay atten-tion to the quality of your clothes. Wouldn’t this make you look too shabby, and be a source of ridicule by our neighbouring countries?

“This would also be detrimental to our country’s image, and people will gossip about how the Prime Minister of the Lu State lives in such a manner. Why doesn’t Your Honour change this way of life? Wouldn’t that be better for you

and the country?”Ji responded in a serious tone: “I,

too, want my home to be decorated luxuriously and elegantly. But look at the people in our country. Many of them are still eating food that is too coarse to swallow, and are wearing clothes that are torn and shabby. There are also others who are cold and starving.

“When I think about these peo-ple, how can I still bear to indulge in material wealth? If I dress up my family and feed my horse on good grain—while my people can only afford to drink coarse tea and wear shabby clothes—how can I still have the conscience to serve my country?! Moreover, I have heard that a country’s strength

and glory is defined by the moral character of its civilians and offi-cials, and not by how glamorous their wives look or how fine their horses are. How can I accept your suggestion?”

After hearing Ji’s words, Zhong-Sun was ashamed of his previ-ous comments, but also had even more respect for Ji. From then on, Zhongsun also followed Ji’s exam-ple in leading a simple life. He asked his family to wear clothes of ordinary cloth, and fed his horses with rough chaff and weeds.

When Ji Wenzi learned of Zhongsun’s change, he praised Zhongsun for being a moral per-son who could amend his mistakes immediately.

Pay Attention to Cleanliness and Thrift Rather Than Luxury

lessons from dizi gui

values & virtues36 july 25 – august 7, 2014 Epoch timEs

弟子規

謹

朝起早　夜眠迟　老易至　惜此时

冠必正　纽必结　袜与履　俱紧切

置冠服　有定位　勿乱顿　致污秽

衣贵洁　不贵华　上循分　下称家

对饮食　勿拣择　食适可　勿过则

年方少　勿饮酒　饮酒醉　最为丑

步从容　立端正　揖深圆　拜恭敬

勿践阈　勿跛倚　勿箕踞　勿摇髀

缓揭帘　勿有声　宽转弯　勿触棱

执虚器　如执盈　入虚室　如有人

事勿忙　忙多错　勿畏难　勿轻略

斗闹场　绝勿近　邪僻事　绝勿问

将入门　问孰存　将上堂　声必扬

人问谁　对以名　吾与我　不分明

用人物　须明求　倘不问　即为偷

借人物　及时还　后有急　借不难

晨必盥　兼漱口　便溺回　辄净手

LESSONS FROM DIZI GUI

VALUES & VIRTUES36 JULY 4 – 17, 2014 EPOCH TIMES

The Prime Minister of the Lu State, Ji Wenzi, was known for his thriftiness and strict conduct, and was deeply respected by his people.

yiyuanyi.org