This expression means forming ties among people based on a common just cause and not forming ties for selfish purposes.Bi (比), meaning to be “close,” implies affinity or attachment. Here it describes a group brought together by a common just cause.Dang (党), referring to“cliquish,”implies bias and factionalism. Here it describes a group bro…

The expression was first used in poetry criticism to mean that a poem fully met poetic stylistic standards. It later became an important term in Chinese classical operatic theory. It has two meanings. One is that the language used by a character in a play is simple, natural, easy to understand, and appropriate for the character. The other is that ch…

This concept, as opposed to “revere the fundamental and dismiss the specific,” originates in Wang Bi’s (226-249) interpretation of Laozi. The fundamental, namely, Dao, is shapeless and nameless, while the specific refers to natural shapes and names. The term “revere the fundamental and keep the specific unchanged” means giving full rein to Dao …

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