In 1936, just two months before Lu Xun’s death, he wrote the following in an essay titled Death to his family:

  1. Do not accept a single penny of condolence from anyone — except from old friends.
  2. Hold the funeral quickly; move on.
  3. Do not do anything memorial.
  4. Forget about me; focus on your own life — you’re a fool if you don’t
  5. It’s okay if our son ends up mediocre; on no account he become a good-for-nothing writer or artist.
  6. Don’t take any promises seriously.
  7. Stay away from exploitative individuals who advocate forgiveness and tolerance.
Original text:
  1. 不得因为丧事，收受任何人的一文钱。 ——但老朋友的，不在此例。
  2. 赶快收殓，埋掉，拉倒。
  3. 不要作任何关于纪念的事情。
  4. 忘记我，管自己的生活。——倘不，那就真是糊涂虫。
  5. 孩子长大，倘无才能，可寻点小事情过活，万不可去做空头文学家或美术家。
  6. 别人应许给你的事物，不可当真。
  7. 损着别人的牙眼，却反对报复，主张宽容的人，万勿和他接近。

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