12月10日

九世同居
唐 張公藝 ( 578~676 )

少年不學老來悔，
春不勤耕秋無收。
勤讀勤耕自榮華，
交商買賣眼前花。
青春要有英雄氣，
男兒要為天下奇。
事不三思終有悔，
氣能一忍永無憂。
急難莫求無情漢，
得時就進有道人。
家中幸福賢夫造，
室內平安智婦謀。
妻賢何愁家不富，
子孝必定父親嚴。
父子同心家不退，
兄弟和氣家不分。
世人見訣學仁義，
九世同居福祿來。

──選自《舊唐書》

【案】據《唐書 ‧ 友傳序》記載，張公藝一家九代同居， 唐高宗問其家風，當時八十八歲的張公藝隨即書寫了一百 個「忍」字上呈，並講述「百忍」內容，唐高宗大受感動， 賜給他縑帛，並親書「百忍義門」以示表彰。

December 10

Under the Same Roof for Nine Lives
Zhang Gongyi (578 - 676, Tang Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

A lack of studiousness in youth
    will cause regret at old age;
A lack of cultivation in spring
    will result in a bad autumn harvest.
With studiousness and diligent cultivation
    one will naturally win glory and prosperity;
Trading and businesses for money
    can be as transient as flowers.
In youth, one must already
    strive for a heroic bearing;
As men, one's goal should be
    a rare achiever of the world.
Acting before thinking thrice,
    regret will eventually rise;
Enduring a moment's injustice
    shall result in a lifetime's peace.
When it comes to urgent matters,
    seek no help in hard-hearted ones;
To seize opportunities for progress
    requires a mind in accord with the Way.
The happiness of a family
    lies in the hands of an able husband;
The wellness of a home
    lies in the hands of a clever wife.
In the presence of a dutiful wife,
    the family is destined for prosperity;
In the presence of filial sons,
    a father of strictness is sure to be the cause.
If father and sons are unanimous,
    the family is sure to never regress;
If siblings maintain their strong bonds,
    the family certain will never be gone.
People learn from secrets for the
    attainment of benevolence and righteousness;
It takes blessings and longevity for people
    to live under the same roof for nine lives.

── from Jiu Tang Shu (The Old Book of Tang)