Chinese Thought and Culture

zhāngbiǎo 章表 Memorial of Gratitude or Petition 古代文体名称，是臣下感谢皇帝恩宠或向皇帝有所请求的文书。“章”用于谢恩，“表”用于陈请。两者从文体上说差别不大。南朝刘勰（465？—520）在《文心雕龙》中对写作章表提出的理想标准是：表意明确而不肤浅，陈述与分析既精练又充实，合乎礼仪规范和文字规范。 This is an ancient style of official communication, through which a high-ranking official expressed his gratitude or presented a petition to the emperor. Zhang, or memorial of gratitude, and biao, or memorial of petition, differed little in style. Liu Xie (465?-520) of the Southern Dynasties observed in […]

zé 则 Rules 法则、规则。“则”既指天地自然运行的规则，也指人伦生活所遵循的法则。这些法则决定了生活世界的基本秩序，违背这些法则会导致混乱与灾祸。有人认为，天地与人事遵循着相通的法则，人事的法则来源于对天地之则的秉承或效法。也有学者认为，天地与人事有着各自不同的法则，互不影响。 It refers to rules and principles. The term denotes not only natural laws governing the movement of things in the universe, but also ethical principles that guide human life. These rules, laws, and principles establish the fundamental order in the world in which we live; and their violations will lead to

yǔn zhí jué zhōng 允执厥中 Hold Fast the Golden Mean 不偏不倚，诚实地执守中正之道。允：诚信。执：坚持，实行。厥：其，那个。中：中正。也称“允执其中”。作为国家的治理者，尤其是居于首位的治理者，面对各种意见、利益或力量的纠葛、博弈时，绝不无原则地偏向任何一方，而要诚心实意地坚守中立、公正的立场，采取应该采取的政策措施，这样才能把国家治理好。犹言坚持原则，公正无私。这一理念具有普世价值。 Governors of the country, especially principal governors, should never be biased in making decisions on conflicting opinions, interests, and forces in an unprincipled way, but rather they must sincerely hold fast to the middle course with appropriate policies and measures, and sincerely adhere to

yǒu wǒ zhī jìnɡ, wú wǒ zhī jìnɡ 有我之境，无我之境 Scene Involving the Self; Scene Not Involving the Self 近代学者王国维（1877—1927）从物我关系的角度所概括和总结的中国古典诗词的两种审美境界。王国维在其著名的文学理论著作《人间词话》中提出了“境界”概念，认为只有营造出境界的诗词才是上乘之作。王国维不仅把它视为诗词的创作原则，也把它当作批评标准，用“境界”论述诗词的演变，评价作者的得失、作品的优劣、词品的高低。围绕“境界”，他又提出了若干命题，“有我之境，无我之境”就是其中最为重要的一对术语。“有我之境”，就是词作者将自己的主观感情融入文学形象之中，使得文学形象带有强烈的感情色彩；“无我之境”并不是没有感情的融入，只是这种感情冲淡平和，也可以说是作者的情感表达与文学形象形成了契合。在王氏看来，“无我之境”无需刻意雕琢，巧然天成，是艺术追求的最高境界。“境界”说既是王国维文艺批评的出发点，又是其文艺思想的总归宿。 This term refers to the dual character of aesthetic appreciation of classic Chinese poetry highlighted by the early modern scholar Wang Guowei (1877-1927), from the perspective of the relationship between the self and the external world.

yóu 游 Unattached 悠游。“游”是一种处世、行事的方式。以“游”的方式面对生活世界中的人和物，即要求人们与其所接触、认识的对象保持一种若即若离的关系。一方面，“游”不能疏离于对象之外，而是要保持与对象的接触，在接触中获得真切的了解；另一方面，“游”又要与对象保持距离，不能沉溺于对象之中而受其牵累。“游”要始终保持主体超越于对象之外的自在，从而获得关于对象的更深刻的认知。 This term refers to a relaxed and unencumbered approach to people and things. To be unattached, one needs to keep at arm’s length when he comes into contact with other people or things. He should not be too detached, thus unable to have contact with people or objects and know them

yǒng yú bù gǎn 勇于不敢 Courage Lies in Not Venturing into Action. 勇于柔弱或退缩，勇敢地选择不敢做某事。这是老子“柔弱”“无为”智慧的体现。依老子之见，一味逞强直进是危险的，要当进则进，当退则退。真正的勇，不仅表现为敢于做某事，更表现为不敢做某事；不仅要有所为，也要不妄为、有所不为。它提示人们，要有所敬畏，有所遵循；对违背规律、践踏原则、破坏规矩的事情，要勇敢地退缩，坚决不为。小到为人处世，大到治国理政，皆同此理。 Courage lies in weakness or retreating, in bravely choosing not to venture into doing something. This exemplifies the wisdom in Laozi’s concepts of “weakness” and “non-action.” According to Laozi, it is dangerous to always push ahead stubbornly. One should advance when advancing

yìjiǎn 易简 Ease and Simplicity 平易而简约。“易简”之说出于《周易·系辞上》。《系辞》认为，“乾”“坤”所代表的天地之道平易而简约，因此可以包容万物，又易为人所认识和遵从。后人或以“易简”之道作为对执政者的要求，强调政令应平易、简约，避免对百姓的过度干预。也有学者从修养工夫的角度，强调以“易简”工夫发现、体认自己的本心，确立内在的道德意识。 The term “ease and simplicity” comes from the first half of Xi Ci (“Attached Texts”), a chapter in The Book of Changes. Xi Ci holds that the law of the universe as embodied by heaven and earth is one of ease and simplicity. Therefore, it encompasses everything, and is easy

yìduì 议对 Commentary and Proposal 古代文体名称，用于臣下向帝王讨论政事、提出意见或对策。“议”用于臣下与皇帝讨论、分析政事，陈述不同意见和建议；“对”主要指对策，用于回答皇帝所提的问题。《文心雕龙·议对》将二者放在同一篇讨论，实际涵盖了所有的政论文体。南朝刘勰（465？—520）认为政论文写作的关键在于：全面掌握古今典章政制和重要事例，发现和提出有意义的问题，客观、合理分析问题，提出可行观点或对策，不能不顾事实而徒然表现文辞。刘勰以政论文的实际内容和效果为本，首先强调作者的见识、才能、态度，推崇那些既懂行又善辩、能够平息争议解决复杂问题的通才。刘勰的上述见解对于今天的政论文、学术论文及其他议论文写作都具有指导作用。 In ancient times, commentaries and proposals were submitted by officials to emperors to discuss state affairs and offer solutions. The term yi (议commentary) refers to an official discussion and analysis of state affairs with the emperor to air one’s views, often different from that held by the emperor and other

xū jǐ yǐ yóu shì 虚己以游世 Free One’s Mind to Enjoy the World 消除自身的欲念以悠游于世。出自《庄子·山木》。《庄子》借由市南宜僚与鲁侯的对话指出，人之忧患源自对外物的欲求与对得失的计较。因此，要消除忧患，就要破除对外物的贪欲。无心于外物，才能因循万物的变化，不受外物牵累和伤害。这样一种处世的方式即是“虚己以游世”。 It means to clear mundane desires from one’s mind so as to move freely in the world. This expression comes from Zhuangzi, in which it is proposed by way of a conversation between an official named Shinan Yiliao and the Duke

xìn yǐ chuán xìn, yí yǐ chuán yí 信以传信，疑以传疑 Pass Down both What Is Credible and What Is Unverifiable 可信的就作为可信的留传下去，可疑的就作为可疑的留传下去。出自《穀梁传》。它体现了中国古史编纂与史学研究的传统，具有历史方法论的意义。它的意思是：历史的研究与书写要依据文献资料，对于文献资料及前人的不同说法，要采取客观审慎的态度，尊重史料，不主观臆断。可以确证的就下判断，不能确证或存有争议的不妨存疑。这种方法论是中国“良史”理念的具体体现，包含着科学史学的精神。 Contained in Guliang’s Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals, this concept embodies the ancient Chinese tradition of history compilation and historiography, and is an important historical methodology. This concept means that the research and