Chinese Thought and Culture

yì yǐ shēng lì, lì yǐ fēng mín 义以生利，利以丰民 Justice Brings Wealth, and Wealth Enriches People. 执政者按照道义和规则生财获利，而后用所取得的财利使百姓生活丰足富裕。“义”本指礼义，也可理解为道义、法度、规则；“生利”即创造财富，获取利益；“丰民”，使百姓丰足富裕。对于执政者而言，“利”的规定性，不仅在于符合道义、规则，还在于百姓能享其利，民生得到改善。它是“以义为利”“藏富于民”思想的结合。 A ruler must generate wealth in accordance with justice and rules, and then use such wealth to help people prosper. Yi (义), originally refers to righteousness and can also be understood as appropriateness and rules. Shengli (生利) means to generate […]

tuō kējiù 脱窠臼 Avoid Stereotypes 指戏曲创作应摆脱陈旧的创作模式。所谓窠臼，不仅指以往作品的窠臼，还包括创作者个人的窠臼。由明末清初曲论家李渔（1611—1680）在《闲情偶寄》中提出。李渔认为，戏曲创作的取意、填词应力求新颖，不能蹈袭前人，才可称得上“传奇”。这一术语的提出既是为了满足观众的审美心理，也体现了文艺创作必须创新求变的宗旨。 This term means that a writer should not fall into old patterns when writing a drama. He should not only avoid stereotypes of previous works but also resist attempts to do so in his own creations. The term was proposed by late Ming to early Qing drama theorist Li

yǐ yì nì zhì 以意逆志 Interpreting a Writing from One’s Own Perspective 依据自己的理解去解读文学作品中的意思。这说的是正确阅读文学作品的方法，由战国时期思想家孟子（前372？－前289）提出。孟子这个观点是针对如何正确理解《诗经》作品而发，后来被广泛引申为对诗歌乃至其他一切文学作品的阐释方法。这一观点主张，读者在阅读文学作品时，要结合自己的生活经验和思考，去领会、推测作者在作品中所寄寓的情感，从而理解作品的内容和主旨。这一观念发展为中国古代文学批评中的鉴赏理论。 This term describes an appropriate approach to reading literary works by understanding the work from one’s own perspective. It was put forth by Mencius (372? -289 BC), a thinker in the Warring States Period, when he talked about how to correctly understand

yǐ yì zhì shì 以义制事 Handle Matters According to Morality and Justice 按照道义做事，即遵循道义、正义的原则处理政治、军事等重大事务。在中国古代政治话语中，没有权力可以任性一说；相反，要求权力的产生必须有正当性依据，权力的行使也必须遵循道义，这一点历来为古人所注重。道义、正义高于权力、规制权力，这是中国古人所推崇的政治生态。 To act based on morality and justice, that is, to manage major political and military matters according to the principles of morality and justice. In ancient Chinese political discourse, it was never right to suggest that power could be exercised arbitrarily. On

yǐ wǔ wéi zhí, yǐ wén wéi zhǒng 以武为植，以文为种 Military Action Is like Planting; Good Rule Is like the Seed. 对战争而言，“武”只能作为辅助性手段，“文”才是统一和治理天下的根本方略。“武”指武力、军事手段，“文”主要指德治和教化。由战国军事家尉缭子提出。农作物的长势是否茂盛，首先取决于种子的好坏，而后才取决于农人的栽培和养护。尉缭子以此比喻德治和军事两者在统一和治理天下时的相互关系：军事只是辅助手段，能够让天下人主动归附及国家长治久安的根本方略必须靠德政和教化。这也是最早阐明政治与军事二者关系的命题：军事从属于政治，政治才是军事的本质内容。 When there are armed conflicts, military action is only supplementary to good rule, which is the basis for unity and governance. Wu (武) means armed force or military means, and wen (文) means benevolent rule and

yè 业 Karma 泛指众生一切能够引发后果的行为。“业”分为身、口、意三类，分别对应身体、言语、思想的行为，它们都能够产生好坏不等的结果，故从价值上可分为善业、恶业，以及不能招致善与不善的无记业。在佛教的轮回观念中，前世行为决定了后世的生存形态。因此，不论是否以解脱为目标，为了获得期欲的结果，对于身、口、意三业的掌控都是至关重要的。 This term generally indicates any behavior of beings that may bring about a subsequent effect. Such behavior is subdivided into three kinds: corporal, verbal, and mental. The subdivision corresponds with the behaviors of the body, of speech, and of thought. They can all produce results: good, bad, or something in between.

yán yǒu wù, xíng yǒu héng 言有物，行有恒 Talk Substance; Act with Perseverance 说话要言之有物，做事要持之以恒。“言有物”即说话或写文章要有实际根据和内容，语言、文字要与实际情况相符，不能想当然，不能假大空；“行有恒”即做任何事情都应该有恒心、有原则，说到做到，专心一意，坚持到底，不朝三暮四或半途而废。此术语实际所包含的是一种务真求实的科学态度和专一持守的诚信精神。 What one talks or writes about should have a sound basis and substance; the language and words he uses should fit the actual context. Hyperbole, exaggeration or falsehood should be opposed. In doing anything, one must have perseverance and focus, stick to

xùn 巽 Xun (Wind) “八卦”之一，画为“”。“巽”又为“六十四卦”之一，由两个三画的“巽”卦组成，画为“”。在“八卦”系统中，“巽”卦的基本象征意义是风，风吹拂万物，以柔和的方式影响万物，既有潜入之义，又有发散之义。“巽”卦由一个阴爻和两个阳爻组成，属于阴卦，在人伦领域象征女性。而且，“巽”卦中的阴爻居于下位，为阴卦之长，故象征家中的长女。 Xun (wind) is one of the eight trigrams, bundled together in the shape of . It is also one of the 64 hexagrams, composed of two trigrams like this . In the eight-trigram system, it symbolizes the wind. The wind blows and disperses gently and permeates everything. The term is composed of

xiónghún 雄浑 Powerfulness 指雄健有力、浑厚自然的艺术风格与审美气象。“雄”侧重作品的气力；“浑”兼有浑厚、浑融、浑然诸义，侧重作品的风格、气象。道家认为“道”具有浑然天成的特点，“雄浑”即渊源于此。雄浑的形成，并非出于人为的故意安排，而是以作品蓄积的内在气力为基础，由内向外、自然生发的浑融雄阔的艺术风格。雄浑不能勉强得来，它与作者自身的修养、气质密切相关。就作品而言，语言的组织、词汇的选择、意象的呈现等诸多要素趋向于崇高宏伟，与阔大雄奇的思想意识浑融无间，从总体上表现为雄浑的审美风貌。 This term, which literally means power and splendor, refers to a natural and powerful artistic style and aesthetic taste. In Daoist terms, the Way features the great and vast power of nature, hence the term. Powerfulness is not deliberately created by the author. Rather, it is a majestic, forceful style of

xīnglì-chúhài 兴利除害 Promote the Beneficial; Eliminate the Harmful 兴办对民众有利的事情，消除对民众有害的事情。作为执政者，应将百姓利益放在首位，多做利于天下百姓的事，除去为害百姓的事。中国古人，无论儒家、墨家、法家，都认为这是治国理政者的基本职责，也是治国理政者获得民众拥护的根本前提，因而也是权力正当性的依据所在。今之所谓“执政为民”，与此不无渊源。 Promote what is beneficial to the people; eliminate what is not. Those in power should place the interests of the public at the forefront of their concerns, focusing on what is beneficial and eliminating what is harmful. In ancient China, Confucians, Mohists, and Legalists all held