不忘百姓之病 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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bù wàng bǎi xìng zhī bìng 不忘百姓之病

Never Forget the Suffering of the People

念念不忘百姓的疾苦。儒家认为,为官理政的目的,在于使百姓安居乐业,为政者要时时心怀“忧思”,即以百姓的疾苦为忧,想办法使百姓免于疾苦。它体现了儒家“仁政”理念、中华人文精神和仁人志士经世济民的担当精神。宋代范仲淹(989-1052)《岳阳楼记》中“先天下之忧而忧,后天下之乐而乐”一语,也是这一精神的精彩表达。

Confucianists believe that the aim of a government official is to have people live in peace and contentment. Officials must always bear in mind the people’s well-being, to be concerned about their suffering, and do their best to keep them free from misery. This embodies the Confucian concept of “benevolent governance,” a fine Chinese ethical tradition and the responsibility of those with lofty ideals, working for social prosperity and the people’s well-being. This concept is well expressed in the line: “Worry before everyone else has to worry, and feel happy only after everyone else can feel happy.”–in the “Memorial to Yueyang Tower” written by Fan Zhongyan (989 -1052), an eminent minister of the Song Dynasty.

引例 Citation:

◎身可危也,而志不可夺也;虽危,起居竟信其志,犹将不忘百姓之病也。(《礼记·儒行》)

(身体可以遭受伤害,但他的志向不会改变;虽然处境险恶,但平时所想仍是如何实现自己的抱负,仍然念念不忘百姓的疾苦。)

One may be physically injured, but one must never be robbed of aspiration. Even in a perilous position, one must still be concerned with how to realize their aspiration to alleviate the suffering of ordinary people. (The Book of Rites)

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