As it embodies basic principles of Confucianist ethic, it has been widely accepted and propagated in the three hundred years since it was written.Many sentences from the treatise have become maxims much repeated and learned that have guided generations of Chinese in their conduct at home, at the workplace,and in society.

His treatise expounds on many ideas that are universally held to be beneficial to the development of human society.Thus it has earned him the title of reverence, Zhu Zi.

The 506-word treatise by Zhu Yongchun (1617-1688)was originally meant to be the author's instructions to his own descendants. As it embodies basic principles of Confucianist ethic, it has been widely accepted and propagated in the three hundred years since it was written.Many sentences from the treatise have become maxims much repeated and learned that have guided generations of Chinese in their conduct at home, at the workplace,and in society.

"He who intends to rule the country must first run his family well. And to run his family well, he must first cultivate his own moral character" is a well-known quotation from the Confucianist classic Da Xue ( The Great Learning). In his writing, Zhu Yongchun has expressed incisively the link between the individual, the family and society.

His treatise expounds on many ideas that are universally held to be beneficial to the development of human society.Thus it has earned him the title of reverence, Zhu Zi.

In this book, Chinese cartoonist Fu Chunjiang has exemplified the maxims through lucid and vivid illustrations, making it easy for the reader to relate them to his own experiences and thus apply the code of success in his daily life.

Prologue: The Life of Zhu Zi

Maxims by Zhu Zi: The Chinese Code of Success

1 Managing the Household

2 Outward Appearances

3 Family Matters

4 Personal Disciplines

5 Money Matters

6 Managing Vices

7 Cultivating Virtues

8 On Retribution

9 Contentment

10 Noble Aspirations

Appendix

Complete text of Maxims by Zhu Zi:

Classical Text I Hanyu Pinyin I

Chinese Paraphrase / English Translation