Paintings | installation | Silkscreen prints |

WEI Guangqing The Zhu Family Instructions 2006 146.0 * 114.0 cm (57" * 45") x 24 Pieces Painting | Acrylic on canvas | code: WGQU022 / id:8019

Zhu Family Instructions
In this series from 2006, Wei Guangqing uses colorful diagonal stripes and marks (extracted from bar codes) as the background upon which he places the illustrative images from the ancient book of morals titled Zhu Family Instructions. Though he uses totally different color combinations in every work, they all apparently point to the modern developing China that should pays attention to ethics, ideals, economics, and politics in the age of globalization. He thereby incorporates the ancient literature into contemporary time and context.
Zhu Family Instructions is a meritocracy about family ethics and cultures in ancient China which made people understand the standard of morality, decency and propriety. It was used by Zhu Bolu (A Chinese ancient philosopher 1627-1698) to educate his children. He taught them to content with their lot, to be diligence, thrift, to be friendly to others, and to respect the elders. He also told the ancient ideals to his children with simple words.

Detail pictures:

Get up at daybreak，Make Your Courtyard Clean	Lock your gates	Fix the Roof before It Rains, Wait until Thirsty to Dig a Well	Don't Go Overboard When Entertaining Guests
Do not build luxurious buildings; Do not attempt to obtain good fields.	Nuns, matchmakers, and tradeswomen	Although the ancestors are remote in time, your sacrifices to them cannot be insincere	Teaching sons must use an appropriate method.
Treating people in poverty, with sympathy	Giving to People who have less	Close relatives, distant relatives, old and young - all should respect these rules and words	People who flatter someone with wealth and power are the most disgraceful kind of person
In the end litigation is an inauspicious thing	Do not rely on force or bully widows and orphans	Do not wantonly slaughter fowl for the sake of feeding your hunger	If you associate with ruffians, after a while you will certainly get into trouble
People who are experienced and prudent can be relied on in times of trouble	Do not forget the kindness of others done to you	If others are experiencing good fortune, do not become jealous	If they are suffering misfortunes, do not become happy
If you hide your hatred and stab others in the back, then misfortune will extend to your children	family is in harmony and is obedient	If your taxes are already paid, then even if your pockets are empty, you can still have boundless happiness	The mind of an official must always think of king and country