This concept means generally applicable principles and tangible concrete objects, which are an important pair of concepts in ancient Chinese philosophy. Dao is invisible, concealed and metaphysical, while objects are tangible, visible and physical. The former represents unity of things, while the latter demonstrates diversity of things. However, the…
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 the contrary, it was expected that there should be a legitimate basis for the creation …
This poetic style pursued rhetorical beauty and symmetrical structure. In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, poets such as Yang Yi (974-1020), Liu Yun (970-1030), and Qian Weiyan (977-1034) gathered in the emperor's private library to compile Important Mirrors for Governance, a book that records the activities of monarchs and their minist…