Listen to this articlefēnghuà 风化
The Influence of Moral Cultivation
统治者自身的德行对百姓的影响。“风化”的意思是像风吹万物一样影响、感化（民众），是教化的一种重要形式。儒家认为，统治者是百姓的榜样，对百姓有着潜移默化的影响。如果统治者能够使自身的言行符合道德、礼法的规范，那么不必对百姓做出强制的要求，百姓就会出于对统治者的效法，而自觉地遵守德礼的规范。“风化”也指在统治者的这种影响下所形成的风俗、风气。
This refers to the effect a ruler’s virtuous behavior has on his subjects, in the way the wind influences the myriad things. Moral cultivation is an important part of education. The Confucian view is that a ruler should set an example to the people, influencing them unobtrusively. If he is moral and ethical in conduct, the people will follow his example and abide by the rites and moral standards willingly without being under duress. The term also refers to the prevailing social mores in a country shaped by a ruler’s influence.
引例 Citations：
◎季康子问政于孔子曰：“如杀无道，以就有道，何如？”孔子对曰：“子为政，焉用杀？子欲善而民善矣。君子之德风，小人之德草，草上之风，必偃。”（《论语·颜渊》）
（季康子向孔子询问为政之法：“如果诛杀无道之人，以成就合乎礼法的言行，怎么样？”孔子回答：“你施政治国，为什么要用杀戮呢？你自己追求善行，民众就会为善。君子的德行就像风，民众的德行就像草，风从草上面吹过，草必然会随着风向倒伏。”）
Jik angzi asked Confucius about the way to govern. What about killing those who are evil in order to enforce moral standard?” He said. Confucius replied, “Why do you need to kill people in order to govern? If you act honorably, the people will naturally follow you. A gentleman’s virtue is the wind and the common man’s virtue is the grass. When the wind blows, the grass bends.” (The Analects)
◎夫风化者，自上而行于下者也，自先而施于后者也。（颜之推《颜氏家训·治家》）
（所谓风化，就是为政者向民众所推行的教化、前代的人对后人所生发的影响。）
Moral education refers to the education the rulers promote among the populace, as well as the influence the previous generations exert on the coming generations. (Yan Zhitui: Admonitions for the Yan Family)
