谦德 · 大邦者下流

Qiān Dé

Classical Chinese Text

大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。夫两者各得所欲，大者宜为下。

Translation & Meaning

真正恢弘的大国应当像居于江河下游的大海一样，做天下百川交汇的柔顺母体。柔顺的雌性总是以宁静包容赢得刚躁的雄性，正是因为她宁静而又甘居谦下。 所以大国若能对小国保持谦下尊重，便能赢得小国的信服归附；小国若能对大国保持谦逊得体，便能赢得大国的信任接纳。因此，有的是借谦下凝聚人心，有的是靠谦下获得庇护。 大国无非希望包容团聚各方百姓，小国无非希望获得和平安定的发展空间。要使大小双方各遂其愿，力量越强大的一方就越应当主动保持谦下。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：“大者宜为下”展现超凡的外交与人际格局：地位越高、实力越强者，越能主动放低身段包容弱小，百川自然归海。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 邦 (bāng): classical character (bāng)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 流 (liú): classical character (liú)
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 牝 (pìn): classical character (pìn)
  • 交 (jiāo): classical character (jiāo)
  • 也 (yě): [modal particle of assertion]
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 静 (jìng): classical character (jìng)
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 牡 (mǔ): classical character (mǔ)
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 小 (xiǎo): classical character (xiǎo)
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 或 (huò): tangible / perhaps / presence
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 过 (guò): classical character (guò)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 兼 (jiān): classical character (jiān)
  • 畜 (chù): classical character (chù)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 入 (rù): classical character (rù)
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 两 (liǎng): two / duality / polarity
  • 各 (gè): classical character (gè)
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 所 (suǒ): place / frontier / that which
  • 宜 (yí): classical character (yí)