Nurture a Sense of Contentment Among the People

使百姓適宜、安宜。中國古人認為，這是國家制度設計、政策制定、治國理政所必須遵循的根本原則。在中國傳統(tǒng)政治話語中，“天”是主宰，“君”是手段，“民”是目的；“天”與“民”的關系，可以概括為“天隨人愿”，即《尚書》所謂“民之所欲，天必從之?！比绻f“安民”是治國理政者的基本職責和主要目標，那么“宜民”則是履行此職責、實現此目標的行動指針和過程規(guī)范。其精髓在于，一切以民眾適宜為標準，執(zhí)政者不得將自己的主觀意志強加于民。

Striving for a society where people are content and in comfort was a foundational principle that the ancient Chinese believed essential to guide the design of state systems, policy formulation, and the governance of a nation. Upholding this precept was considered pivotal for leaders wanting to receive the protective support of tian (天 heaven) — a traditional concept of Chinese governance where tian presides, the ruler mediates, and the people are the central focus. This dynamic is encapsulated in the idea that tian aligns with the will of the people, as depicted in The Book of History, "What the people desire, tian will surely give effect to." The core responsibility and goal of a leader is to ensure the peace and stability of the people. Yet, going beyond that, nurturing a sense of contentment among the people provides a compass — guiding the path towards fulfilling these responsibilities. This principle guides leaders to prioritize the comfort and needs of the people, while carefully avoiding the imposition of their personal desires on the populace.

引例 Citations：

◎《詩》云：“宜民宜人，受祿于天?！睘檎擞诿裾撸坍斒艿撚谔?。（《漢書·董仲舒?zhèn)鳌罚?/p>

《詩經》說：“適合于民，適合于人，接受上天給予的福祿?！眻?zhí)政能適合人民，自然會得到上天給予的福祿。

As written in The Book of Songs, "By bringing contentment to the people, he shall be blessed by tian." Those who govern in ways that nurture contentment among the people will naturally receive blessings from the natural order of tian. (The History of the Han Dynasty)

◎王者制禮作樂，道在宜民。（吳廣成《西夏書事》卷十二）

推行王道的君主創(chuàng)制禮樂制度，其根本原則在于使百姓安寧。

Rulers who conduct the benevolent governance craft rituals and create music, with the fundamental principle of bringing a sense of contentment to the people. (Wu Guangcheng: The Affairs of the Western Xia Dynasty)

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