Study On San Huai Wang's Family Education Activities Of Northern Song Dynasty

The San Huai Wangs is a famous aristocratic family in the Northern Song Dynasty, and the ancestors, Wang Yan and Wang Che, both of whom are knowledgeable scholar. The title, San Huai is created by the king's son Wang Hu, which expressed the expectation of family and younger generations Hu and Wang's son-Wang Dan really lived up to his father's expectation and became a famous prime minister of Song Dynasty, which made the Wang's occupy an important position in the history of Song Dynasty. The reason that his family could last for generations, with many outstanding people, and played an important and indispensable role in politics and literature during the Song Dynasty. One important reason is that the Wangs emphasize on the family education of descendant and have a favorable family educational atmosphere. With the existing historical research upon San Huai Wangs Family, this paper will adopt the family educational activities, probe into their educational ethic, and vividly present the educational scenes and activities of the San Huai Wangs Family. Through this research, we could acquire their outstanding education concept and methods in order to spread out the traditional culture.The thesis consists of five parts:The first part is the analysis of the Wangs' family background. It begins with the rise of the Wangs and introduces the origin and development and then how the generation of Wang Dan reach to prosperity. However, the fall and wars of Song Dynasty impelled the Wangs to move to south. So the member of the Wangs dispense over the country. With the brief introduction of the whole family, we can grasp the integral situation of this aristocratic families.The second part analyzes the social background of the Wangs educational activities. It will be divided into four parts: the lead of the government emphasis on literature and education; the rise of imperial concept, “No questioning on background of family”; the material conditions of scientific technology and economic development;the influence of “Idea of co-construction of Home and Country”.The third part and fourth part are the most important two parts, which analyzed deeply the method of educational activities. It includes four aspects: the formulation of rules and regulation; the establishment of study hall; the guidance of famous teachers; the help of books and calligraphy relics. The fourth part is following the third part, under the premise of the method, interpretated the content and methods of educational activities of the whole family. The educational content related to three aspects: the first is reading and studying the text, including the Confucian classics, poetry, inspirational education. For the entire family, the study of knowledge is the core of the Wangs' education. Then the teaching of daily life, which covers etiquette and frugality education. The daily life aimed at improving personal accomplishment and quality, thus promoting the peace and unity of family. Frugality is the way San Huai Wangs keep its family, and it maintains the long-term development of the family. Most importantly, for social ability, moral education, establishing of friendship and fellowship official education, self-education, which provides a comprehensive guide to the development of human character and further bureaucratic career. As for methods used for the entire family educational activities, the family is mainly relying on demonstration, family code, traveling, and practice, love education, combing the content with right method can acquire a great effect, which is very reason for the Wangs to occupy an important place in politics and literature from generation to generation.Finally, we can summarize the whole study. First of all, we are supposed to generalize the prominent features of all the family educational activities: focus on moral education; take advantage of incentives; adopt flexible teaching methods; input the diversified educational content. In additions we can state the influence the Wangs exert on the education of other contemporary aristocratic families. In the end, the judgement of the Wangs will be presented.