Guan Zhong's Theory of State Governance: Four Dimensions of a Country with Honesty, Righteousness and Shame

管子管仲论治国：礼义廉耻国之四维

Etiquette, justice and shame are the basic norms of life. It is of great significance to social stability and national development.

----Zhuge Changqing

Guan Zhong (about 723 BC or 716 BC - 645 BC) is a Yiwu with the posthumous title of "Jingzhong". He was born in Yingshang (now Anhui) and is known as Guan.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the famous politician and military strategist of the State of Qi was the descendant of King Mu of Zhou.

Guan Zhong lost his father when he was young, and his old mother was in the hall, living in poverty. He had to bear the burden of his family prematurely. In order to make a living, he went into business with Bao Shuya; Later, he joined the army and reached the state of Qi. After several twists and turns, he was recommended by Bao Shuya as the top minister of the state of Qi (the prime minister), known as "the first minister of the Spring and Autumn Period", and assisted Duke Huan of Qi to become the first hegemon in the Spring and Autumn Period. Therefore, it is also said that "Guan Yiwu is superior to the scholar".

Guan Zhong's remarks can be found in the Guoyu Qi Yu, and another book, Guan Zhong, has been handed down.

Guanzi is a compilation of statements of various schools of thought during the Warring States Period, and its contents are very complex, including the views of Legalists, Confucianism, Taoism, Yinyang School, celebrities, strategists and farmers. It is said that Guanzhong's work was written during the Spring and Autumn Period.

The current version of Guan Zi was compiled by Liu Xiang in the Western Han Dynasty. The original 86 chapters are now only 76. The content is divided into eight categories: nine chapters of Jing Yan, eight chapters of Wai Yan, seven chapters of Nei Yan, seventeen chapters of Phrase, five chapters of Qu Yan, ten chapters of Miscellaneous, four chapters of Guan Zi Jie, and sixteen chapters of Guan Zi's Weight.

Guan Zhong stressed at the beginning that the education of the people is fundamental to the stability of the country. He put forward the idea of "courtesy, integrity and shame, and the four dimensions of the country". Zhuge Changqing believed that Guan Zhong's foresight determined his brilliant career.

The education of the people must be put first. With good people, the society will be in order.

Guan Zhong pointed out that the state has four dimensions, one dimension of which is absolutely inclined, two dimensions of which are absolutely dangerous, three dimensions of which are absolutely collapsed, and four dimensions of which are absolutely destroyed. It can be right to tilt, safe to be dangerous, safe to be overturned, and wrong to be destroyed.

What is four-dimensional? The first is etiquette, the second is righteousness, the third is honesty, and the fourth is shame. The etiquette should not exceed the standard, the righteousness should not go ahead, the honesty should not cover up the evil, and the shame should not be wasted.

Therefore, if it does not exceed the time limit, it will be safe at the top; If we do not advance ourselves, the people will be free from deceit; If you don't cover up evil, you will do it yourself; If you don't do it in vain, evil will not happen.

The basic meaning of this passage is:

The state has four dimensions. Without one dimension, the state will tilt; Without two dimensions, the country is in danger; Without three dimensions, the country will be subverted; Without four dimensions, the country will perish. Inclination can be righted, danger can be saved, overturning can be resumed, and only when it is destroyed, it will be out of control.

What is four-dimensional? The first is etiquette, the second is righteousness, the third is honesty, and the fourth is shame.

If you are polite, you will respect your parents and others, and you will not violate etiquette;

If you are righteous, you will benefit the society and help others;

If you are honest, you will cherish and keep yourself clean, and you will not cover up your mistakes;

If you are ashamed, you will admire the sages and sages, and you will not behave evil.

If people do not go beyond the etiquette they should observe, the status of the ruler will be stable; If you don't act rashly, people will cheat by accident; If you don't hide your fault, your behavior will be naturally correct; If you don't behave evil, evil and disorderly things won't happen.

Zhuge Changqing: If everyone in the country can be honest and upright, then it will surely continue to develop healthily. Etiquette, justice and shame should be the most basic entry point of national education. Everyone knows etiquette, justice and shame, and jointly promotes the revitalization and development of the country. It is necessary to make greater efforts to promote filial piety to parents, respect the old and love the young, benefit the society, abstain from killing and release the living, basic knowledge of Chinese culture, etiquette knowledge, patriotic knowledge, etc.

礼义廉耻，是做人的基本规范。对于社会稳定、国家发展意义十分重大。

---- 诸葛长青

　 管仲（约前723或前716－前645）名夷吾，谥曰“敬仲”，颍上（今属安徽）人，史称管子。

   春秋时期齐国著名政治家、军事家，周穆王的后代。

   管仲少时丧父，老母在堂，生活贫苦，不得不过早地挑起家庭重担，为维持生计，与鲍叔牙合伙经商；后从军，到齐国，几经曲折，经鲍叔牙力荐，为齐国上卿（即丞相），被称为“春秋第一相”，辅佐齐桓公成为春秋时期的第一霸主，所以又说“管夷吾举于士”。

   管仲的言论见于《国语·齐语》，另有《管子》一书传世。 

 《管子》是战国时各学派的言论汇编，内容很庞杂，包括法家、儒家、道家、阴阳家、名家、兵家和农家的观点，传说是春秋时期管仲的著作。
　　现在版本的《管子》是在西汉时由刘向编定的，原有八十六篇，现只有七十六篇，内容分为八类：《经言》九篇，《外言》八篇，《内言》七篇，《短语》十七篇，《区言》五篇，《杂篇》十篇，《管子解》四篇，《管子轻重》十六篇。

   管仲一开始就强调，国家安定，民众的教育是根本。提出了“礼义廉耻、国之四维”的主张。诸葛长青认为，管仲的超前眼光，决定了他的事业辉煌。

   民众的教育必须摆在第一位，有了好民众，社会才会有秩序。

   管仲指出：国有四维，一维绝则倾，二维绝则危，三维绝则覆，四维绝则灭。倾可正也，危可安也，覆可起也，灭不可复错也。

   何谓四维？一曰礼，二曰义，三曰廉，四曰耻。礼不逾节，义不自进，廉不蔽恶，耻不从枉。

   故不逾节，则上位安；不自进，则民无巧诈；不蔽恶 ，则行自全；不从枉，则邪事不生。

   这段话的基本意思是：

   国有四维，缺了一维，国家就倾斜；缺了两维，国家就危险；缺了三维，国家就颠覆；缺了四维，国家就会灭亡。倾斜可以扶正，危险可以挽救，倾覆可以再起，只有灭亡了，那就不可收拾了。

   什么是四维呢？一是礼，二是义，三是廉，四是耻。

   有礼，就会孝敬父母、尊重他人，就不会违反礼节；

   有义，就会造福社会、帮助他人，就不会胡作非为；

   有廉，就会各自珍重、洁身自好，就不会掩饰过错；

   有耻，就会仰慕圣贤、三省吾身，就不会举止邪恶。

   人们不越出应守的礼节，为君者的地位就安定；不胡作非为，人们就不巧谋欺诈；不掩饰过错，行为就自然端正；不举止邪恶，邪乱的事情也就不会发生了。

   诸葛长青：国家人人都能做到礼义廉耻，那么必然持续健康发展了。礼义廉耻，应当是国民最基本的教育切入点。人人知晓礼义廉耻，共同推动国家的振兴和发展。更大力度的推广孝敬父母、尊老爱幼、造福社会、戒杀放生、国学基础知识、礼仪知识、爱国知识等，十分必要。

   (This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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