Chinese Ideological And Cultural Terminology That Has Been Published

——From Chinese Thought and Culture Terminology Dissemination Project( Website: 中华思想文化术语传播网 (chinesethought.cn) )

(一)

自铸伟辞    Create Masterpieces of Greatness and Originality

酌奇而不失其贞  Seek Novelty Without Deviating from the Proper Way

致乐以治心  Cultivate the Mind by Immersing in Music

治世之音安以乐  Music in an Era of Order Expresses Peace and Delight.

知足者富    Being Contented Means True Wealth.

知贤    Recognize Talents

正以治国    Rule the State in a Just Way

征圣立言    Base Arguments and Writings on the Classical Writings of Sages

乐和民声    Music Harmonizes the Voices of the People.

殷忧启圣    Great Hardship Fosters Great Wisdom

因势利导    Exploit Favorable Situation to Pursue the Goal

因  Inherit

易子而教    Entrust the Education of Children to Outside Teachers

义政    Proper Governance

义者宜也    Yi (Righteousness) is Proper and Suitable Action.

义兵    Army of Justice / Just War

以物观物    Observe Things Based on Their Own Features

以患为利    Turn Disadvantage into Advantage

宜民    Nurture a Sense of Contentment Among the People

玄同    Hidden Harmony

修身贵文    Improve Rhetorical Skills While Nurturing the Body and Mind

小故    Minor Cause

陷之死地而后生  Throw Oneself into Life-threatening Danger in Order to Prevail

侠  Man of Righteousness / Hero

无为者帝    Taking a Non-assertive Action Makes a Good Emperor.

无往不复    Nothing That Disappears Fails to Reappear.

文成规矩,思合符契  The Sage’s Compositions Set the Rules of Writing, and His Ideas Fit Perfectly with Objective Things.

为情而造文 / 为文而造情 Produce a Piece of Writing for Emotions / Produce Emotions for a Piece of Writing

惟人万物之灵    Of All Living Things, Humanity’s Spirit Shines Brightest.

唯乐不可以为伪  Music Allows No Expression of False Sentiment.

(二)

往复    Disappearance and Reappearance

王者以民为天    A Ruler Who Adheres to Benevolent Governance Regards the People as the Highest Authority.

万国同胞    The People of All Countries Are Brothers and Sisters.

婉转附物,怊怅切情  Use Subtlety and Metaphor to Express Sorrow and Despondency

同异    Commonality and Difference

天情    Innate Emotions

体国经野,义尚光大  Portray the Grandeur of the Capital and the Glory of the Countryside

桃李不言,下自成蹊  Peach and Plum Trees Do Not Speak, yet There Is a Path Leading to Them.

死生有命    Life and Death Are Predestined.

述而不作    Record but Not Write

书者,舒也  Writing Is a Way of Expression.

视徒如己,反己以教  Treat Students as You Would Treat Yourself, and Put Yourself in Their Shoes

圣文之雅丽  The Sages’ Writings Are both Elegant and Refined.

生  Generate

身与时舛,志共道申  Although They Were out of Tune with the Times, Their Aspirations Were Eventually Made Known.

赏罚    Rewards and Punishments

桑梓之敬    Respect and Love for Home and Elders

散郁陶,托风采  Words Can Dispel One’s Pent-up Feelings and Display One’s Elegance.

任人唯贤    Appoint People Only on Their Merits

穷达以时    Poverty and Prosperity Are Influenced by the Times.

穷达    Poverty and Prosperity

情往会悲,文来引泣  An Author Who Invests Emotionally in a Lament Can Experience Grief. A Lament Written in This Way Can Move Readers to Tears.

情采芬芳,比类寓意  Use Analogy and Metaphor to Imply Sentiment and Meaning, and Let Passion and Style Bask in Each Other’s Fragrance and Beauty

轻关易道,通商宽农  Lighten Taxes, Secure Trade Routes, Promote Commercial Business and Support Agriculture

切磋琢磨    Cutting, Polishing, Carving, and Grinding

巧言令色    Artful Words and a Pleasing Demeanor

迫生不若死  Better Death than a Forced Life

溺音    Addictive Music

谋及庶人    Consult the Public in Governance

民心无常,惟惠之怀  The People’s Hearts Know No Constant Leader; They Yearn Only for Kind-hearted Leadership.

(三)

民生在勤         Well-being Is Forged Through Hard Work.

民各有心,勿壅惟口     The People Have Their Own Thoughts; Their Voices Should Not Be Silenced.

六志         Six Emotions

流水不腐,户枢不蠹     Running Water Never Turns Foul; Moving Hinges Attract No Worms.

慷慨以任气     The Passionate Spontaneous Manifestation of the Heroic Spirit

均无贫     With Equality, There Is No Poverty.

举一反三         Infer Three Other Related Aspects from One Concept

精理为文,秀气成采     Produce Reasoning-based Writings with Graceful Literary Style

吉凶由人         The Outcome of Auspiciousness or Inauspiciousness Depends on Human Behavior.

吉凶         Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness

嵇志清峻,阮旨遥深     Elevated Clarity, and Unfathomable Obscurity: the Poetic Voices of Ji Kang and Ruan Ji

祸福         Fortune and Misfortune

好恶         Love and Hate

贵贱         Nobility and Lowliness

观     Observation

故     Cause

攻其无备,出其不意     Attack Unexpectedly and Without Warning

繁华损枝,膏腴害骨     Too Many Flowers Disfigure the Branches; Obesity Damages the Bones.

法者天下之平         The Law Is Just for All.

法先王     Follow the Examples of Ancient Kings

法生于义         Laws Come from What Is Appropriate.

法后王     Follow the Examples of Recent Kings

多难兴邦         Adversities Reinforce a Nation’s Resilience

睹物兴情         Be Moved at the Sight of Natural Objects

独乐其志,不厌其道     One Should Fulfill His Wish Without Deviating from Benevolence and Righteousness.

洞性灵之奥区         Penetrate the Depths of the Human Mind

德音         Music Conforming to Virtue

当然         Should Be So

大乐与天地同和     Grand Music Reflects Harmony Between Heaven and Earth.

大故         Major Cause

(四)

辞约而旨丰     Simple in Diction yet Rich in Meaning

触兴致情         Draw Inspiration from External Objects

成     Grow

怊怅述情         Release of Melancholic Feelings

常识         General Knowledge

不患寡而患不均     Fear Not Scarcity, but Inequality

避实击虚         Avoid the Strong and Attack the Weak

比音而乐之     Arrange Notes into a Piece of Music

百龄影徂,千载心在     The Sage Has Passed Away, but He Will Always Be Remembered.

爱而知其恶,憎而知其善     In Love, Acknowledge Faults; in Hatred, Recognize Virtues.

醉翁之乐         The Joy of the Old Drunkard

自为         For the Sake of Self-interest

众乐         Share Joy with Other People

制天命而用之         Grasp and Utilize the Endowments of Heaven

至情         True Passion

至诚无息         The Highest Level of Sincerity Is Endless.

知言养气         Understanding True Meanings of Statements and Cultivating Uprightness

知人论世         Know Others and Discuss Their World

知人         Know Others

知己知彼,百战不殆     Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy and You Will Know No Peril.

战胜易,守胜难     It Is Easy to Win a War but Difficult to Retain the Victory.

运用之妙,存乎一心     The Skillful Use of Tactics Depends on the Thinking and Judgment of the Commander.

月晕而风,础润而雨     A Lunar Halo Forecasts Wind, and a Wet Column Base Forecasts Rain.

元气         Yuanqi / Fundamental Qi (Vital Force)

欲谋胜敌,先谋人和     To Overcome the Enemy, First Build Unity.

有形         Corporeal

有为         Action

有待         Having Something to Depend on

音情顿挫         Achieving Rhythm of Speech and Emotion and Cadence of Speech

阴阳之气         The Qi (Vital Force) of Yin and Yang

(五)

以文为词    Writing Ci Poems as Prose

以诗为词    Writing Ci Poems in a General Poetic Style

一阴一阳之谓道  The Alternation of Yin and Yang Constitutes the Way.

养兵千日,用兵一时  Maintain an Army a Thousand Days for Use at a Critical Time

燕乐    Banquet Music

学于众人,斯为圣人  Learning from Others Enables One to Become a Sage.

玄默之表    Being Quiet and Reticent

心本自乐    Joy Is Original of Man’s Heart and Mind.

效验    Verification and Validation

小令    Xiaoling (Short Lyrics / Short Songs)

象教    Image-based Teaching

现量之美    Beauty of Spontaneous Response

先胜后战    Be Sure of Winning Before Engaging in War

狭路相逢勇者胜  When Confronting the Opponent on a Narrow Path, the Boldest Will Prevail.

五律    Five-character Rhythmic Poetry

无一字无来历    No Word Is Without a Source.

无形    Incorporeal

无穷    Limitlessness / Infinity

我手写我口  I Write What I Want to Say.

文武之道,一张一弛  The Rules of King Wen and King Wu Are Like Slack and Taut Bowstrings.

文起八代之衰,道济天下之溺  The Classical Style of Writing Revived the Literary Style in Decline During the Eight Dynasties; Confucianism Lifts the People out of Their Mental Plight.

文化    Wenhua (Cultural Education)

为我    For One’s Own Sake

忘忧清乐    Forget One’s Worries and Enjoy Leisurely Tranquility

万物之理    Universal Principle

万物一体    All Things Are One.

童心    Childlike Heart

天行有常    Nature’s Ways Are Constant.

天象    Heavenly Phenomena

天下无生而贵者  No One in the World Is Born Noble.

(六)

天地之气    The Qi (Vital Force) of Heaven and Earth

天道远,人道迩  The Way of Heaven Is Far Away, While the Way of Man Is Near at Hand.

虽有智慧,不如乘势  Even If One Is Intelligent, It Is Better to Follow the Trend of the Times.

虽天子,必有尊  Even the Son of Heaven Has Something to Respect.

虽负贩,必有尊  Even Peddlers Have Something to Be Respected for

素朴    The Natural State

四声八病    Four Tones and Eight Rhythmical Errors

十二平均律  The Twelve-tone Equal Temperament

师克在和    To Be Victorious, an Army Must Be United.

善战者,立于不败之地    Those Who Excel at War Must First Protect Themselves from Defeat.

善胜兵者,先自修理  Success in War Requires Good Organization.

杀身成仁    Sacrifice Life to Preserve Virtue

仁人志士    A Person with Compassion, Integrity and Resolve

人能弘道,非道弘人  People Can Promote Dao, Rather Than Use Dao to Promote Themselves.

群而不党    Be Sociable but Never Form a Clique

气盛言宜    Virtue and Knowledge Produce Good Writing.

平水韵  Pingshui Rhyming System

贫不学俭,卑不学恭  Poor People Do Not Need to Learn Frugality, and Humble People Do Not Need to Learn Respectfulness.

宁为玉碎,不为瓦全  Rather Be a Broken Jade Vessel Than a Whole Clay Pot / Rather Die with Honor Than Live in Shame

律诗    Lüshi (Regulated Verse; Rhythmic Poetry)

隆礼    Respect for Social Norms

六气    Six Forms of Qi (Vital Force)

礼不下庶人  The Common People Are Not Bound by Ceremonial Rites.

乐谏    Welcome Admonishments

狂者胸次    An Unrestrained Mind

绝句    Jueju (Quatrain)

坚白相盈    Solidity and Whiteness Fulfill Each Other.

己欲立而立人    While Seeking to Establish Oneself, One Strives Also to Establish Others.

己(我)    Self (Myself)

机趣    Verve and Appeal

(七)

光英朗练    Concise and Clear Wording Makes Writings Shine.

公论    Public Opinion

工尺谱  Gong-che Notation

父母之邦    Mother Country

梵呗    Brāhma Pāthaka (Buddhist Chant)

地道    Way of Earth

道义可尊,无择负贩  A Person Who Leads a Moral and Righteous Life Commands Respect Even If He Is a Humble Peddler.

道尽稽万物之理  Dao Encompasses the Patterns of All Things.

大一/小一   The Largest One / The Smallest One

大同异/小同异   Major Commonality and Difference / Minor Commonality and Difference

大人    Man of Virtue

词别是一家  Ci Poems Have a Distinctive Style.

沉郁顿挫    Pensiveness and Cadence

沉潜讽诵    Focused Study Through Reading and Recitation

常快活便是功夫  To Stay Constantly Joyful Is a True Attainment.

兵之所以强者,民也  The Military Is Strong Because It Enjoys Popular Support.

兵之胜败,本在于政  Victory or Defeat in War Is Dictated by State Policy.

兵贵神速    Speed Is Key in Warfare.

辩  Debate

哀兵必胜    An Endangered Army Filled with Indignation Will Be Victorious.

自治    Self-discipline / Self-control

自知    Know One’s Self / Self-knowledge

自信    Believe in One’s Self

自胜    Overcome Oneself

治病救人    Treat the Illness and Save the Patient

制礼作乐    Establish Rites and Compose Music

指事造形,穷情写物  Establish Relations Among Things, Create Images, Fully Explore Feelings and Aptly Depict External Things

直致    Direct Expression

知易行难    To Know Is Easy; To Act Is Hard.

知言    Discerning Statements

(八)

知天    Understanding Heaven

知难行易    To Act Is Easy; To Know Is Hard

政象乐,乐从和  Both Governance and Music Playing Pursue Harmony

藻辞谲喻    Richly Nuanced Wording and Intricate Figurative Meaning

元首    Head of State

舆论    Public Opinion

有心之器    Objects of Intelligence and Sentiment

友善    Friendly and Kind

庸音杂体    Banal Content and Jumbled Forms

意静神王    A Tranquil Mind Is a Source of Inspiration

以文为戏    Playful Writing

彝伦    Yilun / Constant Relations

言与志反,文岂足征  Writing That Runs Counter to Its Author’s Aspirations Is Worthless

言  Language

县解    Freeing the Mind from Bias

虚怀若谷    An Open Mind as Broad as a Mountain Valley

形神    Form and Spirit

心生而言立  Words Flow Forth from the Heart.

衔华佩实    Harmony Between Substance and Style

下学上达    Study Concrete Things and Reach to a Higher-level Understanding

无欲    Having No Excessive Desire

无待    Depend on Nothing

文不灭质,博不溺心  Graceful Wording Should Not Conceal Content, and Intricate Rhetoric Should Not Drown Out the Author’s Feelings and Thoughts

未雨绸缪    Get Prepared for a Rainy Day

伪  Human Modification; Artifice

忘适之适    Effortless Ease

王者之迹熄而《诗》亡    The Book of Songs Died with the Decline of the Kingly Way.

王道无近功  The Righteous Way Seeks No Immediate Gains.

统类    Universal Principles

天志    The Will of Heaven

(九)

天职    The Work of Heaven

天下一家    All Under Heaven Are of One Family

腾声飞实    Fame and Accomplishment Survive Through Writing

疏野    Unrestrained and Ingenuous Spirit

舒文载实    Use Fine Wording to Voice Feelings and Aspirations

饰羽尚画    Inappropriate Embellishment of Writing

事出于沈思,义归乎翰藻  Recording History in an In-depth Way and Presenting It in Eloquent Writing

食必常饱,然后求美  Attention to Refined Taste Comes Only After the Stomach Is Sated.

圣王    Sage King

善战者致人而不致于人    A Person Skilled at Warfare Controls His Opponents and Is Not Controlled by Them.

善战者求之于势  A Person Skilled at Warfare Seeks Victory Through Strategic Positioning.

善胜者不争  Win a War Without Fighting

荣辱    Honor and Disgrace

人文之元    The Origin of Human Culture

群  Group

亲仁善邻    To Be Benevolent and Friendly Towards Neighboring Countries

气往轹古    A Piece of Writing with Appeal Surpasses That of Ancient Writers.

气节    Moral Integrity

七情六欲    Seven Emotions and Six Desires

朋友    Friends

内省    Introspection

民生    Livelihood of the People

妙造自然    Perfect Naturalness

类族辨物    Discerning Things Through Classification

类  Category

拘挛补衲    Florid Prose and Stilted Writing

敬  Respect

精骛八极,心游万仞  Roaming Remote Realms and Soaring to Great Heights

经典    Classics

金相玉质    The Look of Gold and the Texture of Jade

(十)

节用    Economy

教学为先    Education Must Be Placed First.

将在外,君命有所不受    A General Out in the Battlefield Can Choose Not to Obey the King’s Order.

江山之助    Inspiration from Mountains and Rivers

践形    Cultivate One’s Innate Quality to Be Revealed in One’s Appearance

假象见意    Use Imagery to Express Meaning

后生可畏    Young People Should Be Highly Regarded.

和而不流    Living in Harmony with Others Without Losing Moral Ground

国无义,虽大必亡    A Powerful Country Without Righteousness Is Doomed to Fall.

躬行    Practice in Person

凤凰    Phoenix

非乐    Oppose and Ban Music

繁采寡情,味之必厌  Excessive Adornment and Lack of True Feeling Make One’s Writing Dull.

雕琢情性,组织辞令  Ennoble One’s Sentiment to Produce Fine Writing

德惟善政    The Virtue of Those Exercising Power Is Reflected in Good Governance

德操    Moral Integrity

道枢    Pivot of Dao

道器    Dao and Objects

道不欲杂    The Fundamental Principle Should Not Be a Mixture of Ideas.

大衍    The Fundamental Calculation

大清明  Great Clarity and Brightness

崇德    Moral Elevation

充实之谓美  Moral Fulfillment Is Beauty Itself.

成心    Biased Mind

不争    Not Engaging in Contention

不诚无物    Without Sincerity, Nothing Is Possible.

比显兴隐    Make Analogy Explicit and Association Implicit

悲悯    Mercy and Compassion

安民    Give Peace and Comfort to the People

哀乐中节    Express Grief and Joy in Accordance with the Rules of Propriety

(十一)

劝百风一    Much Blandishment and Little Criticism

意不称物,文不逮意  Ideas Cannot Match Actual Things and Words Cannot Fully Express Ideas.

圆融    Consummate Interfusion

念佛    Buddhānusmṛti / Recollection of the Buddha

一阐提  Icchantika

不二    Advaya / Non-duality

二谛    Satyadvaya / Two Truths

如来藏  Tathāgatagarbha / Womb of the Tathāgata

识  Vijñāna / Consciousness

实相    Bhūtatathatā / True Suchness

法身    Dharmakāya / Body of Dharma

絜矩之道    Principle for the Application of Rules and Norms

耻  Shame

形名    Form and Name

兑  Dui (Marsh)

艮  Gen (Mountain)

隐士    Hermit / Recluse

分  Natural Attribute

人伦    Human Relations

人心    Human Heart / Human Ddesires

道心    Moral Mind / Moral Consciousness

德性    Virtuous Nature / Morals as Human Nature

心术    The Art of the Mind

公私    Public and Private

立中制节    Determine the Proper Way for Expressing Human Feelings

称情立文    Establish Moral Standards in Keeping with Human Feelings

乡饮酒礼    Banquet for Community Leaders and Rural Elders

射礼    Rites of Archery

聘礼    Pinli (Diplomatic Etiquette and Protocol)

绝地天通    Keep Earthly and Heavenly Affairs Separate

(十二)

和实生物    Harmony Begets New Things.

和  Harmony

物极必反    When Reaching an Extreme, Things Are Bound to Revert to Their Opposites.

反  Reversal to the Opposite

言之无文,行而不远  Lackluster Wording Never Travels Far.

至乐无乐    Utmost Happiness Lies in Not Aware of the Happiness.

声无哀乐    There Is No Such Thing as Joyful or Sad Music

洗炼    Make Writing Succinct

情以物迁,辞以情发  Feeling Varies with Scenery and Verbal Expression Arises from Feeling.

赤子之心    Utter Innocence

但见性情,不睹文字  To Impress Readers with True Feelings Oblivious of Its Wording

高古    Unadorned Antiquity

冲淡    Quiet Elegance

劲健    Strength and Vigor

仁者乐山,智者乐水  The Virtuous Love Mountains and the Wise Love Waters.

隔/不隔 Disharmony / Harmony

金文    Bronze Script

甲骨文  Inscriptions on Bones or Tortoise Shells

竟陵派  The Jingling School of Literary Writing

独抒性灵,不拘格套  Bold Expression of One’s True Self

诗家三昧    The Key to Poetic Creation

主文而谲谏  Admonition Through Tactful Wording

元和体  The Yuanhe Style of Poetry

江西诗派    The Jiangxi School of Poetry

因革    Inheritance and Innovation

瘦硬    Thin and Strong

浓淡    Denseness and Lightness

巧拙    Cleverness and Clumsiness

隐显    Concealment and Revelation

方圆    Squareness and Roundness

(十三)

疏密    Sparsity and Density

词话    Criticism on Ci Poetry / Cihua (Story-telling with Song and Speech)

诗话    Criticism on Poetry / Shihua (Story-telling with Song and Speech)

人怨伤国    People’s Grievances Harm the Country.

爱人深者求贤急  Those Who Most Love the People Will Eagerly Seek Talent.

因材施教    Audience-based Education

鸟尽弓藏    When the Birds Are Gone, the Bow Is Stored.

善败者不亡  Those Adept at Coping with Defeat Cannot Be Destroyed.

兵贵胜,不贵久  In War, Seek Quick Victory, Not Prolongation.

医者仁心    The Caring Heart of a Physician

悬壶济世    Hanging a Gourd (Practicing Medicine) to Help the World

上医医国    Great Healers Heal the Country.

上工治未病  Great Physicians Treat Before the Outbreak of an Illness.

苍生大医    A Master Physician to All the People

人命关天    Life Is as Important as Heaven.

好生    Cherish Life

投桃报李    Return Kindness with Kindness / Return Goodwill in Kind

良医不能救无命  Even a Good Doctor Cannot Save a Doomed Patient.

有病不治,常得中医  Self-treating an Illness Can Usually Get a Good Result.

兼听    Listen to Both Sides

君子谋道不谋食  A Man of Virtue Seeks Dao, Not Livelihood.

道不同,不相为谋    Part Ways and Part Company

民勇者战胜  A Country with Brave People Can Win the Victory.

夫战,勇气也    Fighting Takes Courage.

千里之堤,溃于蚁穴  A Dam of a Thousand Miles Can Collapse Due to an Ant Hole.

言者无罪,闻者足戒  Those Who Speak Shouldn’t Be Punished While Those Who Listen Should Take Warning.

善为国者不欺其民    A Good Ruler Does Not Cheat the People.

慎终如始    Be as Discreet at the End as at the Beginning; Remain Discreet Throughout the Whole Process

见微知著    Learning About What Is Forthcoming by Observing Tiny Clues

防微杜渐    Take Precautions Early

(十四)

尊生    Respect Life

杏林    Apricot Trees / Venerable Doctors with Good Skills

同胞    Brothers and Sisters of the Same Parents; Compatriots

身教    Teach by Example

乐生    To Delight in Life

爱类    Loving One’s Own Kind

判教    Classification of Teachings

佛性    Buddhadhātu / Buddha-nature

净土    Sukhāvatīvyūha / Pure Land

涅槃    Nirvana

菩提    Bodhi

烦恼    Kleśa / Affliction

不真空  Emptiness as Non-substantiality

本无    Benwu(Original Non-being)

假名    Prajñapti /Designation

三界    Traidhātuka / Three Realms of Existence

无常    Anitya / Impermanent

色  Rūpa / Matter

允执厥中    Hold Fast the Golden Mean

宗教   Buddhist Teachings / Religious Sect

五伦    The Five Bonds

谥号    Posthumous Title

宗庙    Ancestral Temple

小康    Modest Prosperity

虚己以游世  Free One’s Mind to Enjoy the World

游  Unattached

恍惚    Intangible Existence

诸子学  Study of A Hundred Schools of Thought

诸子百家    A Hundred Schools of Thought

经学    Classics Scholarship

(十五)

易简    Ease and Simplicity

贤人    Person of Integrity

圣人    Sage

常  Constant Laws of Nature

则  Rules

卦爻辞  Hexagram Texts

观象    Observing Images

有我之境,无我之境  Scene Involving the Self;Scene Not Involving the Self

文以意为主  The Message Matters More Than the Rhetoric.

情教    Moral Instruction Carried Out with Emotion

情兼雅怨    A Mixed Quality of Grace and Sorrow

情发于声    Feelings Find Expression in Musical Poetry.

陈言务去    The Necessity of Eliminating Banal Expression

陈诗展义    Write Poetry to Express Feeling and Aspiration

讽咏    Chanting with Feeling

丰腴    Plump Beauty

发纤秾于简古,寄至味于淡泊  Intricacy Within Plainness, and Intensity Beneath Quietude

离  Li (The Fire Symbol)

坎  Kan (The Water Symbol)

时中    Follow the Golden Mean

慈  Kindness

俭  Thriftiness

为仁由己    Readily Practice Benevolence and Virtue

慎终追远    Mourn the Deceased and Memorialize Those Long Gone

祭礼    Sacrificial Ceremony

丧礼    Mourning Rites

尊师重道    Honor Teachers and Respect Rules

勇于不敢    Courage Lies in Not Venturing into Action.

为学日益,为道日损  Pursue Knowledge by Adding; Pursue Dao by Subtracting

福祸相倚    Fortune and Misfortune Are Intertwined.

(十六)

大国者下流  A Great State Should Assume a Low Posture.

大医精诚    A Master Physician Must Have Superb Skill and Sincerity.

兵形象水    Troop Should Charge Forward Like the Flow of Water.

爱国如家   Love the Country as One Loves One’s Family

赏善罚恶    Reward Good and Punish Evil

平等    Equality

信以传信,疑以传疑  Pass Down both What Is Credible and What Is Unverifiable

工欲善其事,必先利其器  A Craftsman Must Sharpen His Tools to Do His Job.

视人如己    Treat Others the Way You Treat Yourself

和谐    Harmony

哀吊    Essay of Mourning and Essay of Memory

诔碑    Eulogy or Inscription Carved on a Stela

铭箴    Epigraph and Maxim

祝盟    Benediction and Vow of Allegiance

颂赞    Extolment and Commendation

封禅    Sacrificial Ceremony / An Ode to Sacrificial Ceremony

檄移    Condemnation and Admonition

诏策    Imperial Edicts

论说    Writings of Argument and Persuasion

议对    Commentary and Proposal

奏启    Memorial or Statement to Present One’s View to the Emperor

章表    Memorial of Gratitude or Petition

章句    Textual Components / Annotation Work

声律    Tonal and Rhythmical Patterns

物色    Physical Features

程器    Assessment of One’s Overall Qualities

程门立雪    Standing in Snow at the Gate of the Cheng Home

庙号    Temple Titles of Emperors

郡县    Prefectures and Counties

皇帝    Emperor

(十七)

读万卷书,行万里路  Read Ten Thousand Books and Travel Ten Thousand Li

法者,所以禁暴而率善人也    Law Is for Stopping Violence and Encouraging Good Behavior

兵者,所以禁暴除害也    War Is Fought to Stop Violence and Eliminate Evil.

仁者自爱   A Benevolent Person Cherishes Himself.

君子不器    A Gentleman Is Not an Implement.

见义勇为    Act Bravely for a Just Cause

年号    Reign Title

伦理    Ethics

霸道    Despotic Governance

发乎情,止乎礼义    Start with Feelings and Control with Propriety

咫尺有万里之势  Power of Landscape Within Inches

痴  Obsessiveness / Ignorance / Perplexity

纯素    Pure and Unadorned

丑  Ugliness/ Chou (Role of Clown in a Traditional Chinese Opera)

澄怀味像    Clear the Mind to Savor the Image

不黏不脱,不即不离  Neither Obsessed with nor Detached from the Objects Depicted

不涉理路,不落言筌  Dispense with Theory and Logic, Take Care Not to Fall into Traps of Language.

不似之似    Dissimilar in Form but Similar in Spirit

哀景写乐    Depict Sorrowful Scenery to Express Happiness

书道    The Way of Calligraphy

诗穷而后工  A Good Poem Is the Product of Pent-up Emotions.

不平则鸣    Cry Out Against Injustice

思无邪  No Depraved Thoughts

以意逆志    Interpreting a Writing from One’s Own Perspective

辞尚体要    Succinctness Is Valued in Writing.

拟物立象   Create Images Through Object Imitation

说话    Tale Telling

雄浑    Powerfulness

风神    Vim and Vigor

化境    Sublimity in Art

(十八)

韵  Rhyme / Charm

兴  Evocation

结构    Structure

审虚实  Balance Fiction and Reality

诗无达诂    Poetry Defies Fixed Interpretation

思与境偕    Blend Sentiment with Scenery

立主脑  Focus on What Is Central to a Drama

宋杂剧  Poetic Drama of the Song Dynasty

随物赋形    Writing That Flows like Water

同光体  The Tong-Guang School of Poetry

桐城派  The Tongcheng School of Writing

脱窠臼  Avoid Stereotypes

外师造化,中得心源  Draw Artistic Inspiration from Both Within and Without

诗界革命    The Revolution in the Circle of Poets

文界革命    The Revolution in the Literati Circle

大篆   Greater Seal Script / Big Seal Script

虫书    Insect Script

草书    Cursive Script

楷书    Regular Script

隶书   Clerical Script / Official Script

南北书派    The Northern and Southern Schools of Calligraphy

书契    Documents on Bamboo or Wooden Slips

书圣    The Sage of Calligraphy

能自得师者王    Eagerness to Learn Enables One to Excel Oneself.

韬光养晦    Keep a Low Profile

智圆行方    Be Wise in Thinking and Act Properly

赏信罚必    Confer Honors and Mete Out Punishment to Those Who Deserve Them

穷理尽性    Explore the Nature of All Things

兵以义动    Fighting for a Righteous Cause

义以生利,利以丰民  Justice Brings Wealth, and Wealth Enriches People.

(十九)

睦内图外    Unity Within and Expansion Without

众志成城    Unity Is Strength.

量出制入    Spend-and-Tax / Expenditure Should Be Carefully Calculated Before Making a Plan to Gather Revenue.

正义   Correct Meaning / Justice

欲强兵者,务富其民  A Strong Army Depends on a Prosperous Populace.

以武为植,以文为种  Military Action Is like Planting; Good Rule Is like the Seed.

防民之口,甚于防川  To Silence the People Is More Harmful than Blocking a River.

兵者凶器,争者逆德   Weapons Kill; War Is Immoral.

兴利除害    Promote the Beneficial; Eliminate the Harmful

以义制事    Handle Matters According to Morality and Justice

事势之流,相激使然  The Flow of Events Is Caused by Interactions.

平准    Maintain Prices at an Appropriate Level

理财正辞    Manage Wealth Properly and Speak Correctly

水至清则无鱼    No Fish Survive If Water Is Too Clear.

王者富民    A Ruler Should Enrich People.

君者善群    A Ruler Should Keep People Together.

不愤不启,不悱不发  Instruct Only Who Is Anxious to Learn; Teach Only Who Wants to Express Himself but Does Not Know How.

二人同心,其利断金  If Two People Are of the Same Mind, Their Combined Strength Can Break Metal.

言有物,行有恒  Talk Substance; Act with Perseverance

满招损,谦受益  Complacency Leads to Failure; Modesty to Success.

与时消息    Things Grow or Wither with Time.

制国有常,利民为本  Governance Should Deliver Benefits to the People.

五德终始    The Cycle of Five Elements

蒙以养正    Enlighten the Ignorant and Make Them Follow the Right Path

敬业乐群    Work Diligently and Keep Good Company with Others

安时处顺    Face Reality Calmly

师法之化    Enlightenment Through Education

道问学  Quest for Knowledge

尊德性  Revere One’s Virtuous Nature

率性    Acting in Accordance with Human Nature

(二十)

静因之道    Governance by Being Aloof

势  Situation / Trend

巽  Xun (Wind)

震  Zhen(Vibration)

二柄    Two Handles

抱法处势    Upholding Law by Means of Power

庄周梦蝶    Zhuangzi Dreaming of Becoming a Butterfly

缘督以为经  Following the Du Meridian as the Law

制民之产    Sustaining the People’s Livelihood

仁政    Benevolent Governance

婚礼    Wedding Ceremony

冠礼    Cap Wearing Ceremony

前识    Foreknowledge / Prophecy

说知    Knowledge from Explanation

闻知    Knowledge from Hearsay

亲知    Knowledge from Personal Experience

私名    Private Name

类名    Classified Name

达名    Unrestricted Name

利  Interests / Gain

消息    Wax and Wane

格义    Matching Meanings

方便    Upāya / Expediency

中道    The Middle Way

空  Śūnyatā / Emptiness

苦  Duhkha / Suffering

业  Karma

无我    Anātman / Egolessness

轮回    Samsāra / Rebirth / Reincarnation

比而不党    Be Close but Not Cliquish

(二十一)

尊碑贬帖    Praising Stone Inscriptions while Belittling Copying from Stone Rubbings

骨/肉   Bones and Flesh / Literary Framework and Nuanced Expressions

转益多师    Learn from Many Masters, and Form Your Own Style

诸宫调  Song-speech Drama

正声    Proper Music / Finest Poetry

院本    Jin Opera / Scripts Used by Courtesans

元杂剧  Zaju of the Yuan Dynasty

优人    Entertainers

音  Musical Sounds

义法    Yi Fa / Guidelines for Writing Good Prose

以形写神    Capture the Spirit Beyond Form

以形媚道    Natural Shapes Adapting to Dao

一画    All Forms of Painting as Multiplied from a Single Stroke / Oneness in Painting

扬州八怪    The Magical Eight Painters of Yangzhou

小篆    Lesser Seal Script / Small Seal Script

小收煞  Midpoint Conclusion

戏文    Southern Opera / Operatic Script

五音    The Five Notes

吴带当风    The Sashes in Wu’s Painting Flutter as if in the Wind.

卧游    Enjoy Sceneries Without Physically Travelling

文人画  Literati Painting

水墨画  Ink Wash Painting

书者,散也  Calligraphy Expresses Inner Conditions.

识书之道    The Way to Recognize Good Calligraphy

丽  Enthralling Charm

行书    Running Script

大收煞  The Grand Finale

传奇    Chuanqi (Legendary Story / Legendary Play)

常州词派    The Changzhou School of Commentary on Ci Poetry

欲  Desire

(二十二)

性无善无恶  Human Nature Is Neither Good nor Evil.

性善恶混    Human Nature Is A Mixture of Good and Evil.

性三品  Human Nature Has Three Levels.

小节    Minor Principles

象数    Emblems and Numbers

习  Practice

五行相胜    The Five Elements Triumph over Each Other.

五行相生    The Five Elements, Each in Turn Producing the Next

无用之用    The Advantage of Appearing Useless

文质    Form and Content

为己之学    Learning for Self-improvement

天文    The Laws of Constellations and Seasons/Astronomy

天人感应    Nature and Humans Respond to Each Other.

天命靡常    Heaven-bestowed Supreme Power Is Not Eternal.

素位而行    Do What Is Proper for Your Situation

世异事异    When Times Change, So Do Social Conditions.

人副天数    Humanity Should Be Aligned with Nature.

木讷    Simple and Sparing of Words

力  Strength/Capability

孔颜之乐    The Happiness of Confucius and Yan Hui

洪范    The Grand Rules

寡欲    Restraining Desires

共名    General Name

刚毅    Firm and Resolute

风化    Influence of Moral Cultivation

地理    The Laws Determining the Physical Features of the Land/Geography

大一统  Great Unity

大节    Major Principles

才  Talent/Capability/ Attribute

别名    Distinct Name

(二十三)

保民    Protect the People

白马非马    A White Horse Is Not a Horse

以国为国,以天下为天下  Rule a State or a Country with Different Methods

君子义以为质    Righteousness Is Essential for a Person of Virtue.

国以义为利  A State Should Regard Righteousness as a Benefit.

韦编三绝    Leather Thongs Binding Wooden Strips Break Three Times

公公私私    Public Property Belonging to the Public, Private Property to Individuals

野无遗贤    No Sagacious Person Ignored

政通人和    Good Governance and Harmonious People

国泰民安    Stable Country and Peaceful People

人  Human Being; Humanity

叶落归根    Leaves Fall Returning to the Roots.

改邑不改井  You Can Change a Town, But You Cannot Change the Wells.

国无怨民曰强国  A Country with No Resentful People Is Called a Strong Country.

民无信不立  Without People’s Trust the State Will Not Survive.

天下乃天下之天下    All Under Heaven Belongs to the People.

患在土崩,不在瓦解  Calamity Is Collapse Like a Landslide, Not a Few Roof-tiles Coming Loose.

法者天子所与天下公共也  The Law Must Be Respected Equally by the Son of Heaven and All the People.

法者所以爱民也  Law Is a Means of Loving the People.

以刑去刑    Abolishing Punishment with Punishment

刑期于无刑  The Purpose of Punishment Is to Eliminate Punishment.

战法必本于政胜  Methods of Warfare Must Be Based on the Success of Politics.

修己安人    Cultivate Oneself to Benefit Others

顺无不行,果无不彻 When What You Say Is Justified, There Is Nothing You Cannot Accomplish. When You Act Decisively, You Will Succeed

教学相长    Teaching and Learning Promote Each Other.

君子之交    Relations Between Men of Virtue

兄弟阋于墙,外御其侮    Brothers Quarrel within the Walls of the Home; Outside They Resist Bullying by Others.

保民而王    Protect the People and then Rule as a King

仁者无敌    The Benevolent Person Is Invincible.

大信不约    The Greatest Trust Is Not Found in Pledges.

(二十四)

兵强而无义者残  A Strong Army Without Righteousness Is Destructive.

苟利国家,不求富贵  Seek to Benefit the Country Rather than Personal Wealth and Position

举贤容众    Recommend People of Virtue and Be Magnanimous Toward the Masses

不忘百姓之病    Never Forget the Suffering of the People

上下同欲者胜    Triumph Comes When Leaders and Followers Share the Same Goal.

爱民者强    Power Comes from Caring for the People.

知常达变    Master Both Permanence and Change

凿壁借光    Borrow Light from a Next Door Neighbor

愚公移山    The Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains

饮水思源    When Drinking Water, One Must Not Forget Its Source

言必信,行必果  Promises Must Be Kept; Actions Must Be Resolute

悬梁刺股    Tie One’s Hair on the House Beam and Jab One’s Side with an Awl to Keep Oneself from Falling Asleep while Studying

修辞立诚    Establish Credibility Through Careful Choice of Words

休养生息    Recover from a Social Upheaval and Restore Production / Develop Economy and Increase Population

心同理同    People of Similar Natures and Emotions Will Have Similar Understanding

徙木立信    Establish One’s Credibility by Rewarding People for Moving a Log

推己及人    Put Oneself in Another’s Place

他山之石,可以攻玉  Use Stones from Another Mountain to Polish One’s Jade

岁寒三友    Three Friends of Winter / Steadfast, Loyal Friends

世外桃源    Land of Peach Blossoms / Land of Idyllic Beauty

史  History

十年树木,百年树人  It Takes Ten Years to Grow Trees and a Hundred Years to Nurture Talents

生肖    The Chinese Zodiac / Animal of the Year

求同存异    Seek Common Ground While Setting Aside Differences

清明    The Qingming Festival

千里之行,始于足下  A Journey of a Thousand Li Begins with the First Step

年  Lunar Year/ Year

靡不有初,鲜克有终  All Things Have a Beginning, but Few Can Reach the End.

苛政猛于虎  Tyranny Is Fiercer Than a Tiger

君子固穷    A Man of Virtue Maintains His Ideals even in Frustrations

(二十五)

尽忠报国    Be as Loyal as One Can Be and Serve One’s Own Country

节气    The Twenty-four Solar Terms

讲信修睦    Keep Good Faith and Pursuing Harmony

集思广益    Pool Wisdom of the People

厚积薄发    Build Up Fully and Release Sparingly

法与时变,礼与俗化  Laws Change Along with Evolving Times; Rites Shift Along with Changing Customs

春节    Spring Festival

藏富于民    Keep Wealth with the People

兵强则灭    Relying on Force and Flaunting One’s Superiority Leads to Destruction

爱人为大    Caring for Others is the Top Priority.

六艺    The Six Arts

庙算    Court Calculation

萧散简远    Natural, Leisurely, Simple yet Profound

丰肉微骨    Fleshy Body and Soft Bone Structure

大学    Daxue (Great Learning)

坐忘    Forget the Difference and Opposition Between Self and the Universe

自由    Acting Freely / Freedom

自生    Spontaneous Generation

中和    Balanced Harmony

治世之音    Music of an Age of Good Order

治内裁外    Handling Internal Affairs Takes Precedence over External Affairs.

正始体  The Zhengshi Literary Style

政贵有恒    Stability Is the Key to Governance.

乐  Yue (Music)

约定俗成    Established Through Popular Usage / Accepted Through Common Practice

怨刺    Resentment and Sting

元亨利贞    Yuanheng Lizhen

咏史诗  Poetry on History

永明体  The Yongming Poetic Style

隐逸诗  Recluse Poetry

(二十六)

以战止战    Use War to Stop War

移风易俗    Change Social Practices and Customs

选体    Xuanti Poetry / Poetry in Prince Zhaoming’s Favorite Style

玄言诗  Metaphysical Poetry

性善    Human Nature Is Good

性恶    Human Nature Is Evil.

行己有耻    Conduct Oneself with a Sense of Shame

心斋    Pure State of the Mind

孝  Filial Piety

乡愿    Hypocrite

西昆体  The Xikun Poetic Style

物化    Transformation of Things

无为而治    Rule Through Non-action

亡国之音    Music of a Failing State

婉约派  The Wanyue School / The Graceful and Restrained School

田园诗  Idyllic Poetry

天下为公    The World Belongs to All.

天时地利人和    Opportune Time, Geographic Advantage, and Unity of the People

天经地义    Natural Rules and Orderliness

悌  Fraternal Duty

太康体  The Taikang Literary Style

四象    Four Images

恃德者昌,恃力者亡  Those Who Rely on Virtue Will Thrive; Those Who Rely on Force Will Perish.

盛唐之音    Poetry of the Prime Tang Dynasty

生生    Perpetual Growth and Change

尚贤    Exalt the Worthy

尚同    Conform Upwardly

山水诗  Landscape Poetry

三不朽  Set Moral Examples, Perform Great Deeds, and Spread Noble Ideas

仁民爱物    Have Love for the People, and Cherish All Things

(二十七)

清词丽句    Refreshing Words and Exquisite Expressions

民主    Lord of the People / Democracy

民以食为天  Food Is of Primary Importance to the People.

民心惟本    The People’s Will Is the Foundation of the State

民心    Will of the People

乱世之音    Music of an Age of Disorder

龙  Dragon

两仪    Two Modes

理趣    Philosophical Substance Through Artistic Appeal

狂狷    Proactive Versus Prudent

枯淡    Dry Plainness

克己复礼    Restrain Yourself and Follow Social Norms

精气    Vital Energy

解蔽    Clear the Mind of Enigmas

建安风骨    The Jian’an Literary Style

己所不欲,勿施于人  Do Not Do to Others What You Do Not Want Others to Do to You.

几  Ji / Omen

惠民    Benefit the People

黄河    The Yellow River

荒寒    Grim and Desolate

和为贵  Harmony Is Most Precious.

好战必亡,忘战必危  Those Who Like to Go to War Will Perish; Those Who Forget War Will Be in Danger.

豪放派  The Haofang School / The Bold and Unconstrained School

汉乐府  Yuefu Poetry

涵泳    Be Totally Absorbed (in Reading and Learning)

含蓄    Subtle Suggestion

古文运动    Classical Prose Movement

公正    Fair / Just

宫调    Gongdiao (Musical Modes)

格  Examine / Study

(二十八)

非命    Rejection of Fatalism

泛爱    Broad Love Extending to All

反者道之动  The Only Motion Is Returning.

法  Law/ Dharma

点铁成金    Turning a Crude Poem or Essay into a Literary Gem

得人者兴,失人者崩  He Who Obtains the Support of the People Will Rise; He Who Loses the Support of the People Will Come to Ruin.

当仁不让    When Facing an Opportunity to Exercise Benevolence, Do Not Yield.

大丈夫  Great Man

春秋笔法    The Style of The Spring and Autumn Annals

崇本息末    Revere the Fundamental and Dismiss the Specific

崇本举末    Revere the Fundamental and Keep the Specific Unchanged

成人    Complete Man

畅神    Free Flow of One’s Mind

长城    The Great Wall

仓廪实而知礼节  When the Granaries Are Full, the People Follow Appropriate Rules of Conduct.

参验    Cross-checking and Verification

不战在我    Do not Engage the Enemy If Victory Is Not Guaranteed.

不战而胜    Win Without Resorting to War

博爱    Extensive Love to Benefit All People

标举兴会    Distinctiveness and Spontaneity

边塞诗  Frontier Poetry

百戏    Baixi (All Performing Arts)

安居乐业    Live in Peace and Work in Contentment

爱人以德    Love the People in Accordance with Rules of Moral Conduct

爱民    Love the People

八音克谐    Harmonious Combination of Eight Sounds

歌行体  Poetic Song

写气图貌    Depict Outward Features to Convey an Innate Liveliness

公安派  The Gong’an School of Literary Writing

屈宋    The Qu-Song Duo

(二十九)

审音知政    Assessing Governance By Listening to Music

迁想妙得    Inspirational Creation Based on Association in Thinking

气韵    Artistic Appeal

品题    Make Appraisals

拟容取心    Comparing Appearances to Grasp the Essence

南戏    Southern Opera

北曲    Northern Opera

目击道存    Seeing the Way with One’s Own Eyes

六观    Six Criteria

时序    Change Along with Times

丽辞    Ornate parallel style

离形得似    Transcend the Outer Form to Capture the Essence

乐教    Music Education

夸饰    Exaggeration and Embellishment

苦吟    Painstaking Versification

绘事后素    The White Silk First, the Painting Afterwards / Beauty from Natural Simplicity

绘画六法    Six Rules of Painting

幻中有真    Truth in Imagination

和出于适    Harmony Comes from Appropriateness

感物    Sensed Externalities

郑声    The Music of the State of Zheng

夺胎换骨    Express the Ideas in Earlier Literary Works in a New Way

传神写照    Convey the Spirit and Capture the Person

成竹于胸    Have a Complete Image of the Bamboo Before Drawing It / Have a Fully Formed Picture in the Mind’ Eye

信  Good Faith

智  Intelligence

上兵伐谋    The Best Strategy in Warfare is to Foil the Enemy’s Strategy

与时偕行    Go with the Times

时  Time / Timing

穷则变,变则通,通则久  Extreme –Change –Continuity

(三十)

修德振兵    Cultivate Virtue and Strengthen the Army

奇正    Qi or Zheng / Surprise or Normal

矛盾    Paradox of the Spear and the Shield / Contradiction

离坚白  Separate Hardness from Whiteness

合同异  Unify Similarity and Difference

不言之教    Influence Others Without Preaching

光而不耀    Bright but Not Dazzling

见素抱朴    Maintain Originality and Embrace Simplicity

玄德    Inconspicuous Virtue

明德    Illustrious Virtue

积善成德    Moral Character Can Be Built by Accumulating Goodness.

明分使群    Proper Ranking Leads to Collaboration

心悦诚服    Be Completely Convinced and Follow Willingly

推恩    Extend Benevolence and Love

舍生取义    Give One’s Life to Uphold Righteousness

亲亲    Affection for One’s Kin

一言兴邦    A Single Remark Makes a Country Prosper

博施济众    Deliver Extensive Benefits to the People and Relieve the Suffering of the Poor

一以贯之    Observe a Fundamental Principle Throughout One’s Pursuit

三省吾身    Reflect on Oneself Severel Times a Day

安贫乐道    Be Content with a Simple but Virtuous Life

临渊履薄    Be Discreet as if Standing on Cliff Edge or Treading on Thin Ice

勇  Courage

化性起伪    Transform Intrinsic Evil Nature to Develop Acquired Nature of Goodness

反求诸己    Introspection

形具神生    Physical Form Gives Birth to Spirit

性分    Natural Attributes

天籁    Sounds of Nature

乐天知命    Rejoice in Complying with Heaven and Know Its Mandate

经/权   Constant and Temporary

(三十一)

忠  Loyalty

治大国若烹小鲜  Governing a Big Country Is Like Cooking Small Fish.

直  Rectitude

知先行后    First Knowledge, Then Action

知行合一    Unity of Knowledge and Action

知耻而后勇  Having a Feeling of Shame Gives Rise to Courage.

政者正也    Governance Means Rectitude.

正心    Rectify One’s Heart / Mind

正名    Rectification of Names

载舟覆舟    Carry or Overturn the Boat / Make or Break

与民更始    Make a Fresh Start with the People

有容乃大    A Broad Mind Achieves Greatness.

以直报怨    Repaying a Grudge with Rectitude

以无为本    Wu Is the Origin.

一物两体    One Thing in Two Fundamental States

炎黄    The Fiery Emperor and the Yellow Emperor / Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang

言尽意  Words Can Fully Express Thought.

言不尽意    Words Cannot Fully Express Thought.

雅乐    Fine Music

循名责实    Hold Actualities According to Its Name

血气    Vitality / Vital Force

玄  Xuan (Mystery)

行先知后    First Action, Then Knowledge

心知    Mind Cognition

写意    Freehand Brushwork

小说    Fiction

象  Xiang (Semblance)

相反相成    Being both Opposite and Complementary

无欲则刚    People with No Covetous Desires Stand Upright.

温故知新    Review the Old and Learn the New

(三十二)

同归殊途    Arrive at the Same Destination via Different Routes / Rely on a Common Ontological Entity

天下兴亡,匹夫有责   Survival of a Nation Is the Responsibility of Every Individual.

天命之性    Character Endowed by Heaven

天命    Mandate of Heaven

天理    Natural Law/ Principles of Heaven

天道    Way of Heaven

太虚    Taixu (Great Void)

四海之内皆兄弟  All the People Within the Four Seas Are Brothers.

恕  Being Considerate / Forgiveness

授人以渔    Teaching How to Fish

师直为壮    Troops Will Be Powerful When Fighting a Just Cause.

诗  Shi (Poetry)

慎思明辨    Careful Reflection and Clear Discrimination

慎独    Shendu

三思而行    Think Carefully Before Taking Action

三才    Three Elements

三表    Three Standards

仁者爱人    A Benevolent Person Loves Others.

曲  Qu (Melody)

求放心  Search for the Lost Heart

前事不忘,后事之师   Past Experience, If Not Forgotten, Is a Guide for the Future.

气质之性    Character Endowed by Qi (Vital Force)

气骨    Qigu (Emotional Vitality and Forcefulness)

器  Qi (Vessel)

齐物    Seeing Things as Equal

飘逸    Natural Grace

否极泰来    When Worse Comes to the Worst, Things Will Turn for the Better.

内美    Inner Beauty

理一分殊    There Is But One Li (Universal Principle), Which Exists in Diverse Forms.

礼尚往来    Reciprocity as a Social Norm

(三十三)

旷达    Broad-mindedness / Unconstrained Style

空灵    Ethereal Effect

尽心    Exert One’s Heart / Mind to the Utmost

鉴古知今    Review the Past to Understand the Present

见贤思齐    When Seeing a Person of High Caliber, Strive to Be His Equal.

见闻之知    Knowledge from One’s Senses

见利思义    Think of Righteousness in the Face of Gain

寄托    Entrust One’s Thoughts and Feelings to Imagery

浩然之气    Noble Spirit

公生明,廉生威   Fairness Fosters Discernment and Integrity Creates Authority.

革故鼎新    Do Away with the Old and Set Up the New

歌  Song

刚柔相济    Combine Toughness with Softness

芙蓉出水    Lotus Rising Out of Water

风教    Moral Cultivation

风骨    Fenggu

繁缛    Overly Elaborative

多行不义必自毙  He Who Repeatedly Commits Wrongdoing Will Come to No Good End.

动静    Movement and Stillness

鼎  Ding (Vessel)

典雅    Classical Elegance

德性之知    Knowledge from One’s Moral Nature

得道多助,失道寡助   A Just Cause Enjoys Abundant Support While an Unjust Cause Finds Little Support.

道济天下    Support All People by Upholding Truth and Justice

当行    Professionalism

淡泊明志,宁静致远  Indifference to Fame and Fortune Characterizes a High Aim in Life, and Leading a Quiet Life Helps One Accomplish Something Lasting

淡泊    Quiet Living with No Worldly Desire

丹青    Painting in Colors

大用    Maximal Functioning

大体/小体   The Major Organ and the Minor Organs

(三十四)

大巧若拙    Exquisite Skill Looks Simple and Clumsy.

大道至简    Great Truth in Simple Words

错彩镂金    Gilded and Colored

词曲    Ci (Lyric) and Qu (Melody)

词  Ci (Lyric)

春秋    The Spring and Autumn Annals / The Spring and Autumn Period

诚意    Be Sincere in Thought

沉郁    Melancholy

变化    Change

白描    Plain Line Drawing

总集    General Collection / Anthology

自强不息    Strive Continuously to Strengthen Oneself

止戈为武    Stopping War Is a True Craft of War.

知行    Knowledge and Application

政治    Decree and Governance / Politics

元  Yuan (Origin)

宇宙    Universe / Cosmos

意兴    Inspirational Appreciation

意境    Aesthetic Conception

艺术    Art

养民    Nurturing the People

学  Learn

虚壹而静    Open-mindedness, Concentration, and Tranquility

形而下  What Is Under Form / The Physical

形而上  What Is Above Form / The Metaphysical

兴趣    Xingqu (Charm)

兴寄    Xingji (Association and Inner Sustenance)

小人    Petty Man

逍遥    Carefree

五经    Five Classics

(三十五)

吴越同舟    People of Wu and Yue Are in the Same Boat.

文章    Literary Writing

文学    Literature / Scholars / Education Officials

文笔    Writing and Writing Technique

温柔敦厚    Mild, Gentle, Sincere, and Broad-minded

天子    Son of Heaven

天人之分    Distinction Between Man and Heaven

天人合一    Heaven and Man Are United as One.

体  Ti

四书    Four Books

四海    Four Seas

四端    Four Initiators

斯文    Be Cultured and Refined

思  Reflecting / Thinking

实事求是    Seek Truth from Facts

诗中有画,画中有诗  Painting in Poetry, Poetry in Painting

诗史    Historical Poetry

师出有名    Fighting a War with a Moral Justification

神韵    Elegant Subtlety

神与物游    Interaction Between the Mind and the Subject Matter

上善若水    Great Virtue Is Like Water.

上帝    Supreme Ruler / Ruler of Heaven

三玄    Three Metaphysical Classics

人文    Renwen (Human Culture)

人道    Way of Man

取境    Qujing (Conceptualize an Aestheric Feeling)

乾  Qian

气象    Prevailing Features

命  Mandate / Destiny

名实    Name and Substance

(三十六)

民胞物与    All People Are My Brothers and Sisters, and All Things Are My Companions.

妙悟    Subtle Insight

礼  Li (Rites / Social Norms/ Propriety)

坤  Kun(The Earth Symbol)

开物成务    Understand Things and Succeed in One’s Endeavors

君子    Junzi (Man of Virtue)

君  Lord / Nobility / Monarch

居安思危    Be on Alert Against Potential Danger When Living in Peace

境生象外    Aesthetic Conception Transcends Concrete Objects Described.

境界    Jingjie (Visionary World)

经世致用    Study of Ancient Classics Should Meet Present Needs.

经济    To Govern and Help the People/ Economy

京(京师)  Capital of a Country

解衣盘礴    Sitting with Clothes Unbuttoned and Legs Stretching Out

兼爱    Universal Love

活法    Literary Flexibility

浑沌    Chaos

会心    Heart-to-heart Communication

画龙点睛    Adding Pupils to the Eyes of a Painted Dragon / Rendering the Final Touch

画道    Dao of Painting

化工/画工   Magically Natural, Overly Crafted

化干戈为玉帛    Beat Swords into Plowshares / Turn War into Peace

厚德载物    Have Ample Virtue and Carry All Things

和而不同    Harmony but Not Uniformity

海外    Outside the Four Seas / Overseas

海内    Within the Four Seas/ Within the Country

过犹不及    Going Too Far Is as Bad as Falling Short.

国体    Guoti

国家    Family-state / Country

卦爻    Trigrams / Hexagrams and Component Lines

(三十七)

格物致知    Study Things to Acquire Knowledge

革命    Changing the Mandate / Revolution

刚柔    Toughness and Softness

干城    Shield and Fortress / Dukes and Princes

非攻    Denouncing Unjust Wars

法不阿贵    The Law Does Not Favor the Rich and Powerful.

独化    Self-driven Development

都  Capital/ Metropolis

道法自然    Dao Operates Naturally.

辞达    Expressiveness

唇亡齿寒    Once the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Will Feel Cold.

楚辞    Chuci (Ode of Chu)

城  Fortress / City

别集    Individual Collection

别材别趣    Distinct Subject and Artistic Taste

辨体    Style Differentiation

比德    Virtue Comparison

本色    Bense (Original Character)

八卦    Eight Trigrams

安土重迁    Attached to the Land and Unwilling to Move

隐秀    Latent Sentiment and Evident Beauty

一  The One

选举    Select and Recommend

虚静    Void and Peace

性灵    Xingling (Inner Self)

太学    Imperial Academy

书院    Classical Academy

史才三长    Three Strengths of a Good Historian

圣  Sage / Sageness

神  Shen (Spirit / Spiritual)

(三十八)

社稷    Gods of the Earth and the Five Grains / State / State Power

民惟邦本    People Are the Foundation of the State

美刺    Extolment and Satirical Criticism

六义    The Six Basic Elements

六经皆史    The Six Confucian Classics Are All About History.

科举    The Imperial Civil Examination System

江山    Rivers and Mountains / Country or State Power

肌理    Reasoning and Structure

讽谕    Subtle Admonition

悲慨    Depressed and Enraged

信言不美,美言不信  Trustworthy Words May Not Be Fine-sounding; Fine-sounding Words May Not Be Trustworthy.

象外之象,景外之景  The Image Beyond an Image, the Scene Beyond a Scene

声一无听,物一无文  A Single Note Does Not Compose a Melodious Tune, Nor Does a Single Color Make a Beautiful Pattern.

厉与西施,道通为一  A Scabby Person and the Beautiful Lady Xishi Are the Same in the Eyes of Dao.

乐而不淫,哀而不伤  Express Enjoyment Without Indulgence and Express Grief Without Excessive Distress

不学《诗》,无以言   You Won’t Be Able to Talk Properly with Others Without Studying The Book of Songs.

有德者必有言    Virtuous People Are Sure to Produce Fine Writing.

自然英旨    Charm of Spontaneity

紫之夺朱    Purple Prevailing over Red

有教无类    Education for All Without Discrimination

修齐治平    Self-Cultivation, Family Regulation, State Governance, Bringing Peace to All Under Heaven

兴观群怨    Stimulation, Contemplation, Communication, and Criticism

协和万邦    Coexistence of All in Harmony

文以载道    Literature Is the Vehicle of Ideas.

为政以德    Governance Based on Virtue

顺天应人    Follow the Mandate of Heaven and Comply with the Wishes of the People

人文化成    Edify the Populace to Achieve a Harmonious Society

利用厚生    Make Full Use of Resources to Enrich the People

怀远以德    Embrace Distant Peoples by Means of Virtue

发愤著书    Indignation Spurs One to Write Great Works

(三十九)

诗缘情  Poetry Springs from Emotions.

诗言志  Poetry Expresses Aspirations.

赋比兴  Narrative, Analogy, and Association

风雅颂  Ballad, Court Hymn, and Eulogy

宗法    Feudal Clan System

自然    Naturalness

滋味    Nuanced Flavor

中庸    Zhongyong (Golden Mean)

中华    Zhonghua

中国    Zhongguo (China)

直寻    Direct Quest

知音    Resonance and Empathy

缘起    Dependent Origination

有无    You and Wu

阴阳    Yin and Yang

意象    Yixiang (Imagery)

养气    Cultivating Qi

雅俗    Highbrow and Lowbrow

玄览    Xuanlan ( Pure-minded Contemplation )

兴象    Xingxiang (Inspiring Imagery)

五行    Wuxing

无为    Non-action

文气    Wenqi

文明    Wenming (Civilization)

王道    Kingly Way (Benevolent Governance)

天下    Tianxia (All Under Heaven)

体用    Ti and Yong

体性    Style and Temperament

太极    Taiji (The Supreme Ultimate)

神思    Imaginative Contemplation

(四十)

镕裁    Refining and Deleting

日新    Constant Renewal

人治    Rule by Man

情景    Sentiment and Scenery

良知    Liangzhi (Conscience)

良史    Trustworthy Historian / Factual History

九州    Nine Zhou (Regions)

教化    Shaping the Mind Through Education

华夏    Huaxia/ The Han People

格调    Form and Melody

封建    Feudal System / Feudalism

法治    Rule by Law

大同    Universal Harmony

般若    Prajna/Wisdom

本末    Ben and Mo (The Fundamental and the Incidental)

义  Righteousness

虚  Xu(Void)

性  Xing (Nature)

心  Heart / Mind

物  Wu (Thing / Matter)

王  King

天  Tian (Heaven)

仁  Ren (Benevolence)

趣  Qu

情  Qing

气  Qi (Vital Force)

理  Li

德  De(Virtue)

道  Dao (Way)

诚  Sincerity

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