Chinese Thought and Culture

shī yán zhì 诗言志 Poetry Expresses Aspirations. 诗歌表达作者内心的志向。“志”指诗歌作品中所表达的作者的内心志向、思想，兼及情感因素。“诗言志”最先见于儒家经典《尚书·尧典》，是中国诗论的“开山纲领”（朱自清语），经过历代诗论家的演绎，其蕴涵不断得以丰富，并由此确立了中国文论关于文学特征的基本观念。 A poem expresses aspirations in one’s heart. Zhi (志) here means the author’s aspirations, emotions, and thoughts. The concept of “poetry expressing aspirations,” first seen in the Confucian classic The Book of History, was hailed by Zhu Ziqing as the “manifesto” of Chinese poetry. Enriched by poetry […]

shèng 圣 Sage / Sageness 人所能达到的最高品德；也指具有这种最高品德的人，即“圣人”。“圣”一般与“智”相对而言，“智”是对“人道”的把握，而“圣”则是对“天道”的把握。由于具“圣”德之人能够把握“天道”，因此在人伦日用中通达无碍。 The term refers to the highest realm of human integrity and morality, hence one who has reached this state is a sage. It is often used in relation to “wisdom,” since one who is a wise man understands the way of man, while one who is a sage understands

shēng yī wú tīng, wù yī wú wén 声一无听，物一无文 A Single Note Does Not Compose a Melodious Tune, Nor Does a Single Color Make a Beautiful Pattern. 单一声响不构成动听的旋律，单一颜色不构成美丽的花纹。其本质强调文学艺术的美在于多样性的统一与和谐，只有在多样性的统一与和谐中才能创造美。这一命题后来构成中国古代文艺理论的重要原则，推动文艺的繁荣与发展。 This statement suggests that the beauty of literature and art lies in the unity and harmony of diverse elements. It became an important principle in ancient Chinese

shénsī 神思 Imaginative Contemplation 文艺创作过程中的一种精神状态，指的是作者在饱满的情感驱动下，超越时间与空间的限制，进入到自由想象或特殊的灵感状态，最后通过特定的文学艺术形象和语言而传达出来，创作出自然而美好的文艺作品。这一术语，在魏晋南北朝的文艺理论中得到广泛运用，南朝刘勰《文心雕龙》对此有专门论述。“神思”强调它是文艺创作中一种独特的心理活动，不同于其他认识活动。 The term refers to a state of mind in the process of literary and artistic creation. It suggests that the author, fully inspired by emotions, transcends the constraint of time and space, and enters into a state of free imagination or a special mood for literary and artistic creation, before

shén 神 Shen (Spirit / Spiritual) “神”有四种不同的含义：其一，指具有人格意义的神灵，具有超越于人力的能力。天地、山川、日月、星辰等自然事物皆有其神灵，人死后的灵魂也可以成为神灵。其二，指人的精神、心神。道教认为“神”是人的生命的主宰，因此以存神、炼神为长生之要。其三，指天地万物在阴阳的相互作用下发生的微妙不测的变化。在这个意义上，“神”常与“化”连用，合称“神化”。其四，指人所具有的神妙不可测度的生命境界。 The term has four meanings. First, it indicates a deity in a personified sense, possessing superhuman capabilities. Natural things, such as heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, sun and moon, and stars, have their deity. A human soul may also become a deity after death. Second, it indicates the

shèjì 社稷 Sheji (Gods of the Earth and the Five Grains) 古代帝王、诸侯所祭祀的土地神和五谷神。“社”是土地神，“稷”是五谷神。土地神和五谷神是以农为本的汉民族最重要的原始崇拜物。古代君主为了祈求国事太平、五谷丰登，每年都要祭祀土地神和五谷神，“社稷”因此成为国家与政权的象征。 She (社) is the God of the Earth, and ji (稷 millet), represents the God of the Five Grains. Chinese kings and vassals of ancient times offered sacrifices to these gods. As the Han Chinese depended on farming, these gods were the most important

róngcái 镕裁 Refining and Deleting 对文学作品的基本内容与词句进行提炼与剪裁，使之达到更高的水准与境界。属于文学写作的基本范畴。最早由《文心雕龙》提出。主要指作者在写作过程中，根据所要表达的内容以及文体特点，对于创作构思中的众多素材加以提炼，同时对文辞去粗存精、删繁就简，以求得最佳表现效果。这一术语既强调文学写作的精益求精，同时也彰显了文学创作是内容与形式不断完善的过程。明清时期戏剧创作理论也颇受其影响。 This term refers to improving a literary work by refining its basic content and making the presentation concise. Refining and deleting is a basic process in literary writing. The term was first mentioned in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons. It means that in producing a literary

rìxīn 日新 Constant Renewal 天天更新。努力使自身不断更新，使民众、社会、国家不断更新，持续进步、完善，始终呈现新的气象。它是贯穿在“修齐治平”各层面的一种自强不息、不断革新进取的精神。 This term refers to an ongoing process of self-renewal, which also brings new life to the people, society, and the nation. This process features continuous progress and improvement. It represents a tenacious and innovative spirit that permeates all levels of “self-cultivation, family regulation, state governance, bringing peace to all under

rén 仁 Ren “仁”的基本含义是爱人，进而达到人与人之间、天地万物之间一体的状态。“仁”既是道德行为的基础和依据，又是一种内在的与道德行为相应的心理意识。大体来说，“仁”有如下三重含义：其一，指恻隐之心或良心；其二，指根源于父子兄弟关系基础上的亲亲之德；其三，指天地万物一体的状态和境界。儒家将其作为最高的道德准则，并将“仁”理解为有差等的爱，即爱人以孝父母敬兄长为先，进而关爱其他家族成员，最终扩大为对天下之人的博爱。 The basic meaning of the term is love for others. Its extended meaning refers to the state of harmony among people, and the unity of all things under heaven. Ren (仁) constitutes the foundation and basis for moral behavior. It is also a consciousness that corresponds to the norms of moral

rénzhì 人治 Rule by Man 通过规范人伦关系、道德观念和其他价值系统来治理国家和民众（与“法治”相对），是中国古代儒家政治哲学中最重要的治国理念。这种理念强调人在政治中的根本地位和作用，希望君主具备圣贤的人格，选择有道德和有才干的人治理国家，教育和感化臣民。在中国历史上，这种治国理念通常伴随着一个理想的期待，即实现君、臣、民三者之间的和谐相处，也就是“仁政”。 Rule by man, as opposed to rule by law, is the most important ruling concept in the Confucian political philosophy in ancient China. It calls for ruling a state and its people through orderly human relations, moral standards, and other value systems. Rule by man emphasizes the fundamental role