Three stories of Meng Mu's godson

One, three move to choose neighbors:

1. Mencius' name is Monk. He was born in Fucun (now Qufu City), 25 miles north of Zoucheng City, Shandong Province. Biography of Lienv records that the Meng family lived near the cemetery. Playing and imitating are children's nature. Because people attending funerals often pass by nearby, Monk and other children "actively build and bury things between graves". They imitated the funeral crowd and played the game of carrying coffins and burying bodies with great interest. Meng Mu believes that such an environment will affect children's reading, hinder the formation of children's normal thoughts, and lead children to an unhealthy path.

2. Meng Mu decided to move and resolutely took Monk to Miaohuying Village, far away from the cemetery. Miaohuying Village is located in the northwest of Zoucheng City. It was a prosperous market town at that time. In the bustling city where people come and go, Monk gradually plays business games with the children in the market town, and learns from his companions that vendors are hawking, bargaining and slaughtering pigs and sheep like neighbor butchers. Meng Mu thinks this place is still not an ideal place to train children. In this way, children are easily influenced by small vendors and will not study hard.

Meng Mu, who just lived in this market town for half a year, decided to move again. They moved to the edge of Gong Xue. This Gong Xue is located in the east of Chongjiao Gate at the south gate of Zoucheng, where Confucius' grandson Zisi once set up a palace to give lectures, and later called Zisi Academy. Later Zisi's students gave lectures here.

4. Meng Mu believes that children living near Gong Xue will inevitably be influenced by the atmosphere in Gong Xue, and it will be easy for them to learn when they grow up. After the mother and son moved here, the talented monk was really attracted by the sound of reading in the academy, and often went to the academy to learn poetry and practice etiquette. Meng Mu was glad that he finally found an ideal place to raise his children, and he has lived here ever since. Later, Meng Mu sent Monk to study with Zisi's disciples, which put Mencius on the road to study.

Second, break the godson:

1. Although Mencius was born smart, he was as naughty as an ordinary child. After studying in Gong Xue for a period of time, the original freshness has passed, and the playful nature cannot be changed. Sometimes I play truant and lie to my mother that I am looking for something lost. Mencius once ran home early, and Meng Mu was weaving until he knew that he had played truant again. Meng Mu called Mencius to his side and cut off all the semi-woven fabrics.

2. Mencius asked why this happened, and Meng Mu replied: "If you don't learn, you will have it!" Educating Mencius, learning is like weaving, relying on a little long-term accumulation. Only by perseverance, perseverance, can we gain profound knowledge, become a talent, and not give up halfway. Playing truant is like breaking the machine. If the thread is broken, the cloth can't be woven. If you often play truant, you are bound to learn nothing.

Monk suddenly realized that from then on, he studied hard and lived up to his mother's expectations, and finally became a great thinker and educator.

Third, killing dolphins will not deceive children.

Meng Mu also attaches great importance to the growth of children's character, and her story of "killing dolphins without bullying children" has amazed future generations. Once, the neighbor was sharpening his knife and preparing to kill pigs. Mencius was curious and ran to ask his mother, "What are the neighbors doing?" "Kill the pig." "Why kill pigs?" Meng Mu smiled and said casually, "For you." Just finished this sentence, Meng Mu regretted it, thinking that the pig was not killed for the children. Why should I lie to him? Isn't this teaching him to lie? In order to make up for this mistake, Meng Mu really bought his neighbor's pork for Mencius to teach his children to be a man, "keep your word and keep your word."

Extended information 1. Everything is courtesy first:

1. After marriage, Mencius disliked his wife and thought she was too arrogant. One day, it was very hot, and my wife came home from working in the fields. When she entered the room, she took off her clothes and enjoyed the cool. It happened that Mencius suddenly pushed the door in. Mencius was very angry when he saw his wife naked in the room enjoying the cool air. He thought his wife was dissolute and rude, and immediately thought of divorcing her.

2. When Meng Mu knew this, he severely reprimanded Mencius and said, "You should knock at the door and ask if there is anyone in the room before you can go in. You pushed the door in without knocking. This is your rudeness, not your wife's fault. After listening to his mother's words, Mencius deeply felt that he was too reckless and ashamed that he had not applied what he had learned to his life. Since then, he has completely removed his bad feelings and made up with his wife. Meng Mu taught Mencius the truth that "everything should be courtesy first" with family trivia, and his insight was admirable.

Second, persuade my son to travel:

1. Meng Mu worked hard for his family all his life. Although Mencius has grown up, he has never relaxed his education and supervision. In Qi State, Mencius expounded his political views to Qi Xuanwang many times. Although Qi Xuanwang rewarded Mencius with an annual salary of 100,000 points, he refused to actively publicize his political views. He really wants to go to Song State, which is willing to adopt his political views, but he is worried that his mother will be taken care of when she is old.

2. Knowing his son's worry, Meng Mu said to his son, "So, you should follow your parents when you are young, your husband when you get married, and your son when your husband dies. Be polite. I am an adult now, and I am old! Ziyi, I am polite. " Meng Mu's words swept away Mencius' worries and hesitation. Mencius traveled around the world with his family and was welcomed by all countries. His political ideas were successfully implemented in many vassal countries.

3. At this time, Meng Mu, who has devoted her life to her son, was filled with the joy of a mother's success at the moment she witnessed his son's success. On the way back to his hometown, people and officials in the places he passed along the way rushed to pay homage at the roadside to express their respect and grief for this great mother.