Di Zi Gui" (Standards for being a good student and child) : implications for children and youth development and parenting

Abstract

Di Zi Gui" (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) is a classic Chinese text outlining the proper behavior of a good student and child. It covers the "desired" behavior of children at home and away from home, things that one should pay attention to in daily life, trustworthiness, love of humanity, learning from people with virtue and compassion, and further study after accomplishing the basic tasks. In the present study, the basic assertions in different chapters of Di Zi Gui were examined with reference to contemporary scientific literature on youth development and parenting. Several observations can be highlighted from the review. First, some assertions in Di Zi Gui (such as the emphases on bonding and character) are similar to the emphases in the contemporary youth development literature. Second, some assertions (such as the thought of undermining the rights of children) are not consistent with the contemporary views. Third, Di Zi Gui offers novel insights (such as emphasis on the importance of self-cultivation) into the youth development and parenting theories. Finally, there are practical implications of Di Zi Gui for youth development and parenting. It is concluded that although Di Zi Gui is a classic Chinese text written several centuries ago, some assertions show striking resemblance to the contemporary scientific findings and it has tremendous implications for contemporary youth development and parenting science and practice.