仁者无敌 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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rén zhě wú dí 仁者无敌

The Benevolent Person Is Invincible.

具有仁德的人是无敌于天下的。“仁者”指具有“仁德”的君主或施行仁政的国家。“仁德”在政治层面表现为“仁政”,以仁爱作为施政的依据和出发点,善待民众,慎用刑罚,减轻赋税,最大限度地惠及百姓。如此才能赢得民众的拥护,上下一心,众志成城,无敌于天下。其基本原理是:国家强盛的深厚源泉,在于赢得民心;只有善待百姓,才能获取这一源泉,充满力量。

The one who is benevolent has no enemy. The benevolent refers to a ruler who has the virtue of benevolence or to a state with benevolent rule. In terms of political affairs, benevolence manifests itself as benevolent governance based on love and care for the people, use of penalties with restraint, lighter taxes, and benefiting the people to the greatest extent possible. In this way, the ruler will gain the support of the people and achieve unshakeable unity of will among his subjects and himself, so that the state will be invincible. The underlying principle is that a state’s source of strength lies in winning the hearts and minds of its people; if only the people are cared for, will the state be able to draw strength from this source and become powerful.

引例 Citations:

◎孟子对曰:“地方百里而可以王。王如施仁政于民,省刑罚,薄税敛,深耕易耨;壮者以暇日修其孝悌忠信,入以事其父兄,出以事其长上,可使制梃以挞秦楚之坚甲利兵矣。……故曰:‘仁者无敌。’”(《孟子·梁惠王上》)

(孟子回答说:“有方圆百里的土地就可以使天下归顺。大王如果对老百姓施行仁政,慎用刑罚,减少赋税,深耕细作,及时除草;使年壮男子能有空余时间修养自己孝顺父母、敬爱兄长、为人尽心、待人诚信的品德,在家能侍奉父母兄长,出门能侍奉尊长上级,这样即使他们拿着加工的木棒也能抗击装备精良的秦、楚军队了。……所以说:‘具有仁德的人是无敌于天下的。’”)

Mencius replied, “With a territory of a hundred square li, it is possible for one to rule as a true king. If Your Majesty governs with benevolence, refrains from imposing harsh punishment, and lightens taxes and imposts on the people, they will plow deeply and weed thoroughly. The able-bodied will, on their days off, care for their parents, and they will show fraternal love, loyalty and good faith. At home, they will serve their fathers and brothers, and away from home, their elders and superiors. So they are able to defeat the Qin and Chu troops even with wooden sticks. That is why I believe that the benevolent person is invincible.” (Mencius)

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