Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture

KEY CONCEPTS

TERMBASES

A Ruler Should Keep People Together.

A ruler has the duty to keep people together. According to ancient Chinese philosopher Xunzi (313?-238 BC), people by nature want to live in community.People cannot survive if they go against this nature. Keeping people together so that they form a community or a society is the fundamental duty of a ruler. This term defines the relationship between a ruler and the people, and implies the way in which a society or a state should be structured.

CITATION

A ruler is someone whose duty is to bring people together. If he follows this principle in organizing the people into a community, all things will fall into the right place. (Xunzi)

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CORRELATION

Unity Is Strength.
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.
Triumph Comes When Leaders and Followers Share the Same Goal.
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.”
If Two People Are of the Same Mind, Their Combined Strength Can Break Metal.
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.
He Who Obtains the Support of the People Will Rise; He Who Loses the Support of the People Will Come to Ruin.
The term means that those who win the hearts of the people or get the service of the talented will rise while those who lose the hearts of the people or fail to get the talented people will perish. Ren (人) stands for people’s hearts as well as people’s talents. This saying, which comes from Records of the Historian, has two connotations. First, the rise and fall of a country or government depend on winning people’s hearts. Only by winning people’s hearts and responding to their wishes can a country or government continue to thrive. This is in accord with the philosophy that “people’s will is the foundation of the state” and “people are the foundation of the state.” Second, talents are critical to the rise and fall of a country or government. Only by identifying and recruiting the most capable and most upright people, and by suitably employing them can a great cause be completed and a country and its government remain stable and secure. Winning people’s hearts is closely related to attracting the talented. Winning people’s hearts will eventually draw in the talented, and recruiting the talented will eventually help win people’s hearts. All leaders, be they heads of states, groups or teams, should follow this notion of ruling.

KEY CONCEPTS

A Ruler Should Keep People Together.

CORRELATION

Unity Is Strength.

Triumph Comes When Leaders and Followers Share the Same Goal.

If Two People Are of the Same Mind, Their Combined Strength Can Break Metal.

He Who Obtains the Support of the People Will Rise; He Who Loses the Support of the People Will Come to Ruin.