Listen to this articletiāndào 天道
Way of Heaven
天地万物的存在与变化所遵循的基本法则，与“人道”相对。古人对“天道”的理解并不相同：其一，认为“天道”尤其是与日月星辰运行有关的天象暗示或决定着人事的吉凶成败。古代有专门的职官负责通过对天象的观察来推知人事。其二，认为“天道”是人的道德与人伦秩序的根源或依据。人的言行以及人伦秩序应该效法于“天道”，或者通过体认、发挥“天”所赋予的心性来通达“天道”。其三，认为“天道”与人世的道德、秩序乃至人事祸福之间都没有必然的关联。
The way of heaven refers to the basic rule governing the existence and changes of all things between heaven and earth, as opposed to “the way of humans.” Ancient Chinese interpreted “the way of heaven” in different ways. First, some believed that “the way of heaven,” especially the celestial phenomena relating to the movements of the sun, the moon, and the stars, foretell or dictate the success or failure of human affairs. In ancient times, designated officials predicted human affairs through observing celestial phenomena. Second, some believed that “the way of heaven” was the source or the basis of man’s moral conduct and of orderly human relations. One should comply with “the way of heaven,” in both words and deeds, so should human relations; and people should recognize and develop the moral nature bestowed upon by heaven so as to gain access to “the way of heaven.” Third, still others thought that there were no particular correlations between “the way of heaven” on the one hand, and moral conduct in the human world, human relations, as well as misfortune and fortune in human affairs on the other.
引例 Citations：
◎是以立天之道曰阴与阳，立地之道曰柔与刚，立人之道曰仁与义。（《周易·说卦》）
（所以确立天的法则为阴与阳，确立地的法则为柔与刚，确立人世的法则为仁与义。）
The laws governing the ways of heaven are yin and yang, those governing the ways of earth are gentleness and firmness, and those governing the ways of human society are benevolence and righteousness. (The Book of Changes)
◎诚者，天之道也；诚之者，人之道也。（《礼记·中庸》）
（“诚”，是天的法则；达到“诚”，是人的修养的路径。）
Integrity is what the way of nature requires; acting with integrity is the way to achieve self-refinement. (The Book of Rites)
◎天道远，人道迩。（《左传·昭公十八年》）
（天之道遥远，人事之道切近。）
The way of heaven is far away; the way of man is near. (Zuo’s Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals)
