The upmost (ruler), (people) do not know of her existence; the next lo

淳風 · Chún Fēng

Classical Chinese Text

太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。
信不足焉，有不信焉①。悠兮，其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓“我自然”。

Translation & Meaning

The upmost (ruler), (people) do not know of her existence; the next lower, (people) love and respect her; the next lower, (people) fear her; the next lower, (people) despise her.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 太 (tài): classical character (tài)
  • 上 (shàng): elevate / utmost / high
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 次 (cì): classical character (cì)
  • 亲 (qīn): classical character (qīn)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 誉 (yù): classical character (yù)
  • 畏 (wèi): classical character (wèi)
  • 侮 (wǔ): classical character (wǔ)
  • 信 (xìn): truth / fidelity / honesty
  • 足 (zú): classical character (zú)
  • 焉 (yān): classical character (yān)
  • 悠 (yōu): classical character (yōu)
  • 兮 (xī): classical character (xī)
  • 贵 (guì): prize / cherish / valuable
  • 言 (yán): words / speech
  • 功 (gōng): achievement / merit
  • 成 (chéng): complete / fulfill
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 遂 (suì): classical character (suì)
  • 百 (bǎi): classical character (bǎi)
  • 姓 (xìng): classical character (xìng)
  • 皆 (jiē): all / universally
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 我 (wǒ): classical character (wǒ)
  • 自 (zì): classical character (zì)
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)