TERMBASES
When two people are of the same mind, their combined strength is like a sharp blade which can cut through metal. “Two people” here could mean two brothers, husband and wife, or any two persons working together. “Of the same mind” here means the people sharing the same vision and thinking. This metaphorical term means that people of the same mind will create great strength and can overcome any obstacles. It stresses the importance of concerted efforts and cooperation, which will generate great power.
Literally, this term means “united, we’ll be as solid as a fortress.” With concerted effort, people collectively can generate tremendous strength and be able to overcome all difficulties. Zhi, the second character in the term, means will, and cheng, the last character, means the wall of a fortress. The whole term implies three most important elements: ( 1 ) the factor of human capability; ( 2 ) human spirit and courage; and ( 3 ) unity of the people.
This is an important concept put forward by Sunzi, the great strategist of ancient China. No matter what their position or level, the people in a state, an army or even a work unit should share the same aspiration, will and goal. Only then can all their wisdom be pooled together and their combat capacity be brought to the full. This concept stresses the importance of human spirit and solidarity, embodying one of the essential Chinese conceptions–“people first.”
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