Striving for a society where people are content and in comfort was a foundational principle that the ancient Chinese believed essential to guide the design of state systems, policy formulation, and the governance of a nation. Upholding this precept was considered pivotal for leaders wanting to receive the protective support of tian (天 heaven) – a traditional concept of Chinese governance where tian presides, the ruler mediates, and the people are the central focus. This dynamic is encapsulated in the idea that tian aligns with the will of the people, as depicted in The Book of History, “What the people desire, tian will surely give effect to.” The core responsibility and goal of a leader is to ensure the peace and stability of the people. Yet, going beyond that, nurturing a sense of contentment among the people provides a compass – guiding the path towards fulfilling these responsibilities. This principle guides leaders to prioritize the comfort and needs of the people, while carefully avoiding the imposition of their personal desires on the populace.

As written in The Book of Songs, “By bringing contentment to the people, he shall be blessed by tian.” Those who govern in ways that nurture contentment among the people will naturally receive blessings from the natural order of tian. (The History of the Han Dynasty)

Rulers who conduct the benevolent governance craft rituals and create music, with the fundamental principle of bringing a sense of contentment to the people. (Wu Guangcheng: The Affairs of the Western Xia Dynasty)