Way of Earth
大地及地上萬物存在與變化的法則。古人認為,天地萬物是一體的,因此常將“地道”與“天道”“人道”并舉。其中,“天道”“地道”構(gòu)成了人倫秩序與人事所效法的準則。不過,古人對“地道”的理解不盡相同:其一,認為大地及地上的萬物遵循著不同于“天道”的法則。其二,認為大地及地上的萬物遵循著與“天道”相通的法則,但這一法則在天、地有著不同的表現(xiàn)形式。
The way of earth refers to the law by which the earth and all things on it exist and undergo change. The ancient Chinese believed in the oneness of the heaven, earth, and human being. Thus they associated the way of earth with the way of heaven and the way of man. They also considered that the way of heaven and the way of earth establish the order of human relationships and the norms of human affairs. However, the ancients did not agree on their conception of the way of earth. According to some philosophers, the earth and all things on it follow a law that is different from the way of heaven, while others believed the law governing the earth and all things on it is the same as the way of heaven in essence but different in manifestation.
引例 Citations:
◎是以立天之道曰陰與陽,立地之道曰柔與剛,立人之道曰仁與義。(《周易·說卦》)
所以確立天的法則為陰與陽,確立地的法則為柔與剛,確立人世的法則為仁與義。
So the way of heaven can be summed up as yin and yang, the way of earth as softness and hardness, and the way of man as benevolence and righteousness. (The Book of Changes)
◎天道曰圓,地道曰方。方者主幽,圓者主明。(《淮南子·天文訓》)
天的規(guī)則是圓的,地的規(guī)則是方的。地的規(guī)則主宰幽暗,天的規(guī)則主宰光明。
The way of heaven is circular, and the way of earth square. The latter is the ruler of darkness, while the former the ruler of light. (Huainanzi)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社
責任編輯:錢耐安