Chinese Thought and Culture

zhōngdào 中道 The Middle Way 中正不偏的行事法则。“中道”是相对于偏颇的行为而言的。古人认为，天地万物的存在与变化遵循着基本的法则。这一法则体现在人为行事中，即是“中道”。人的言行应符合于“中道”。儒家主张通过遵循“中道”，避免过度或不及的言行，以实现完美的道德。佛教则主张践行“中道”，以认识事物的真实形态，从而达到解脱。不同学派、教派对“中道”具体内容的理解会有所不同。 The Middle Way manifests the principle of impartiality. It stands in contrast to partial behavior. Ancient Chinese believed that the existence and changes of all things in the universe obey a single basic law, which is shown through human action and conduct. This is the Middle Way. People should […]

zhì yuán xíng fāng 智圆行方 Be Wise in Thinking and Act Properly 头脑圆通，行为端正。智圆：无所不知，即知识完备，考虑周全，灵活通达；行方：有所不为，品行方正，按规矩做事，不投机苟且。这是中国古人推重的为人处世的理想状态，它是知与行、才与德、灵活性与原则性的辩证统一。 This term describes a person who is wise and acts properly. Such a person has broad knowledge, is considerate and flexible in handling things, and knows how to behave in accordance with social norms and etiquette. This kind of person never takes

zhì mín zhī chǎn 制民之产 Sustaining the People’s Livelihood 创制民众的产业。“制民之产”是孟子（前372？—前289）提出的一种为政要求。孟子认为，百姓如果没有稳定的产业收入，无法维持自身的生存，就会为了维持生计而背离道德。因此，为政者必须首先为百姓创造、提供必要的产业，使其生产所得能够满足日常生活的需要。“制民之产”是为政者推行道德教化的基础和前提。 This expression means to ensure a secure livelihood for the people, a requirement for governance proposed by Mencius (372?-289 BC), who believed that if the common people did not have a steady income and could not maintain their survival, they would deviate from moral righteousness

zhì guó yǒu cháng, lì mín wéi běn 制国有常，利民为本 Governance Should Deliver Benefits to the People. 治理国家有不变的原则，就是将有利于百姓作为一切制度和政令的根本。“制国”即“治国”，确立国家的制度、政策，发布政令，处理国家事务；“常”即恒常不变的原则；“利民”同“惠民”，保障百姓利益，使百姓得到好处；“本”即根本。以惠及百姓为国家制度、政令的根本出发点和归宿，这是中华传统“民本”“惠民”思想的又一种表达式。如今，坚持人民主体地位，顺应人民群众对美好生活的向往的思想，亦渊源于此。 An unchanging principle underpinning the governance of a country is that it should deliver benefits to the people. Here, “the governance of a country” refers to establishing systems of governance and policies, and issuing decrees; “delivering benefits to

zhèngyì 正义 Justice 古义主要有二：一谓正确或本来的含义，即对古代典籍的正确解释，常用于书名，如《五经正义》；一谓公理、正理，即公认的正当的原则和道理。近代以后，学界用该词第二义项为理据，翻译西方的justice。时至今日，“正义”成为构建美好社会的核心价值之一。 In ancient days, this term had two meanings. One, it referred to correctness or orthodoxy, specifically in the interpretation of ancient classics. The term was often used as part of a book title, such as Correct Interpretation of the Five Classics. Two, it referred to principles of justice that were universally

zhèn 震 Zhen (Vibration) “八卦”之一，画为“”。“震”又为“六十四卦”之一，由两个三画的“震”卦组成，画为“”。在“八卦”系统中，“震”卦的基本象征意义是雷，雷鸣而万物震动，因此有震动、发动之义。“震”卦由一个阳爻和两个阴爻组成，属于阳卦，在人伦领域象征男性。而且，“震”卦中的阳爻居于下位，为阳卦之长，故象征家中的长子。 Zhen is one of the eight trigrams. Its diagram is . It is also one of the 64 hexagrams and composed of two trigrams like this . In the eight-trigram system, this one basically means thunder, the shock of which causes all things to vibrate. Therefore it means vibration, impulse or mobilization.

yùn 韵 Rhyme / Charm 主要含义有二：其一，作为文体形式的组成要素，指清雅、和谐、动听的声音之美。“韵”最先指构成汉语字音的要素之一。诗、词、曲等文体讲究押韵，被称为韵文。韵文讲求韵的位置安排和合理组合，节奏参差而和谐，能充分体现汉语的韵律美。其二，作为文艺范畴，主要指文艺作品中飘逸流动的精神气质和清远淡雅的意味。常组合成“气韵”“风韵”“神韵”等词语，广泛运用于画论、书论、乐论中。“韵”与“气”皆可指能意会不能言传的艺术感受，但是“韵”更侧重于温柔含蓄及清雅灵动。 This term has two meanings. Firstly, as a stylistic term in writing, it represents a combination of elegant, concordant, and melodious sounds. Rhyme originally was one of the factors contributing to the correct pronunciation of Chinese characters. Rhyme is important for poetry, including ci poetry, and ballad verses. In

yuán dū yǐ wéi jīng 缘督以为经 Following the Du Meridian as the Law 因循自然的脉络以为常法。“缘督以为经”之说出自《庄子·养生主》。“督”指人脊背中线的脉络，居中而无形。庄子（前369？—前286）认为，事物存在发展的自然法则也具有这样的特点，并以此与世俗中有形而偏狭的道德规范相区别。“缘督以为经”也即是因循于无形而中正的自然法则，并以之为常法。只有这样才能顺行于万物之间，与万物无所悖逆。 This expression means to follow the natural meridian as a constant rule. This comes from Zhuangzi’s work “On Nurturing Life.” Du (督) refers here to the meridian along the human spine, central yet without form. Zhuangzi (369?-286 BC) held that the laws governing

yù qiáng bīng zhě, wù fù qí mín 欲强兵者，务富其民 A Strong Army Depends on a Prosperous Populace. 要想使军力强大，必须使本国的百姓富足。它揭示的基本原理是：民富是兵强的基础或前提。百姓富足，国库就充盈，军资就有保障；百姓富足，人丁就兴旺，兵源就有保障；百姓富足，人心顺畅，国家的军政决策就会得到民众拥护。可以说，这一命题是“民惟邦本”理念在民与兵关系问题上的具体化。 To have a strong army, the nation must have a prosperous population. In other words, a prosperous people are the basis and pre-condition of a strong military. Prosperity means the state treasury is full so military supplies

yǔshí-xiāoxī 与时消息 Things Grow or Wither with Time. 事物随着时间的推移而兴衰消长，亦指随着时势而进退。“时”即时间，也指事物随时间之流而呈现的基本趋势和态势；“消”即消减、衰亡；“息”即滋长、兴盛。中国古人认识到，世界是时间性的，是过程，一切事物都是变动不居的，人必须顺应时势而作为。犹言遵循“天道”“与时偕行”。 Things grow or wither as time goes by, or advance or retrogress as circumstances change. Ancient Chinese believed that the world evolved with time, nothing remained unchanged and that people should act in keeping with the circumstances. They stressed that people should observe the Heavenly Way