Listen to this articlemìnɡ 命
Mandate / Destiny
最初指“天命”，即上天对人事的命令。上天根据人的德行状况对人施与奖赏或惩罚。“天命”决定着王朝的更替、国家的兴衰乃至个人的吉凶祸福，被认为是一种不可抗拒的力量。后人逐渐淡化了“命”与“天”的关联，侧重于强调“命”的不可抗拒之义，也即是命运。对人而言，“命”意味着来自于外部的某种限制，标志着人力的极限，并在某种意义上体现为人的无可奈何的处境。
The earliest meaning of the term was mandate of Heaven, that is, the intentions and instructions that Heaven expressed to humans. The implication was that Heaven meted out rewards and punishments on human beings as their moral conduct deserved. The mandate of Heaven was considered an irresistible force that determined dynastic changes, the rise and fall of nations, and even the fate of ordinary people. Later, the link with Heaven became weaker; instead, the unavoidable destiny or fate prevailed. For human beings, the term implies the external limits that determine what is possible and what is not. In one sense, it expresses the helplessness of human beings.
引例 Citations：
◎天命靡常。（《诗经·大雅·文王》）
（上天的命令没有恒常不变的。）
The mandate of Heaven is not immutable. (The Book of Songs)
◎知其不可奈何而安之若命。（《庄子·人间世》）
（知道没有办法可以改变，故安然处之顺应其命。）
Knowing that one cannot change his destiny, one should face things calmly and submit himself to fate. (Zhuangzi)
