居位 · 治大国若烹小鲜

Jū Wèi

Classical Chinese Text

治大国，若烹小鲜①，以道莅天下，其鬼不神。非其鬼不神，其神不伤人。非其神不伤人，圣人亦不伤人。夫两不相伤，故德交归焉

Translation & Meaning

治理幅员辽阔的大国，就像煎烹细嫩的小鱼一样（切忌频繁翻搅折腾）。 依循大道来治理天下，连邪祟鬼怪都不会兴风作浪；不仅鬼祟不显灵作乱，正神也不会降灾伤人；不仅鬼神不伤害百姓，在上的圣人也绝不苛政扰民伤人。 上下幽明彼此互不侵扰伤害，所以和谐淳厚的德泽便共同归聚于人间。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：煎小鱼若反复翻动，立成碎末；管组织、育儿女、调身心亦然——朝令夕改、过度折腾是大忌，安稳火候方成佳肴。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 治 (zhì): govern / bring order / rule
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 若 (ruò): classical character (ruò)
  • 烹 (pēng): classical character (pēng)
  • 小 (xiǎo): classical character (xiǎo)
  • 鲜 (xiān): classical character (xiān)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 莅 (lì): classical character (lì)
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 鬼 (guǐ): classical character (guǐ)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 神 (shén): classical character (shén)
  • 非 (fēi): is not / false / not equal to
  • 伤 (shāng): classical character (shāng)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 圣 (shèng): sage / enlightened one
  • 亦 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 两 (liǎng): two / duality / polarity
  • 相 (xiāng): mutually / each other
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 交 (jiāo): classical character (jiāo)
  • 归 (guī): classical character (guī)
  • 焉 (yān): classical character (yān)