1. The weather is not as good as the right place Classical Chinese Translation

Mencius Gongsun Chouxia

Translation

Mencius said: "The timing and climate are favorable. It is not as good as favorable terrain, and favorable terrain is not as good as the concerted efforts of people. A small city with three miles of inner walls and seven miles of outer walls cannot be conquered. Since it is besieged on all sides, there will always be good times or good weather, but still. It cannot be broken, which means that the favorable timing and climate are not as good as the favorable terrain. Another situation is that the city wall is not not high, the moat is not not deep, the weapons and armor are not extremely powerful and strong, and the food and grass are not insufficient, but the city is still abandoned. Escape, this shows that the favorable terrain is not as good as the concerted efforts of people. Therefore: the people cannot be restrained by sealing the border, the country cannot be preserved by the dangerous mountains and rivers, and the power of the world cannot be achieved by sharp weapons. It's true. People with moral integrity will get more help, while people who lose morality will get less help. When the number of people helping is extremely small, even relatives will rebel; when the number of people helping is extremely large, the whole person will suffer. Everyone will obey. If you use the power of everyone in the world to attack someone who will even betray your relatives, you will definitely be invincible without fighting." 2. Where does "the weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people". This ancient text

is from "Mencius"

Original text

"The weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people.

If you attack a city of three miles and a country of seven miles, you will not be victorious. If you attack it, you will have the right conditions. However, the one who cannot win is because the favorable conditions of the city are not as good as the favorable terrain.

It is not high, the pond is not not deep, the military revolution is not not strong, and the rice and millet are not not abundant. If you leave it, the terrain is not as good as the people.

Therefore, it is said: The people of the region do not take advantage of it. In the boundary of the border, the country should not rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers (original text: "streams"), and the world should not rely on the benefits of military revolution. If you help them, the world will obey them. If the people of the world obey them, they will attack their relatives. Therefore, if a gentleman does not fight, he will win."

Later generations also gave it a name. The weather and seasons that are conducive to combat are not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat. The geographical situation that is conducive to combat is not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat. It cannot match the people's will and internal unity in combat.

The small city with a radius of three li and the outer city with a radius of seven li were surrounded and attacked, but they could not win. To surround and attack it, we must have the favorable weather and season, but we can't win because the weather and season that are conducive to combat are not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat.

The city wall is not too high, the moat is not too deep, the weapons and equipment are not poor, and the food is not insufficient. However, the defenders abandoned the city and fled. This is because the geographical situation that is favorable for combat is not as good as that of fighting. people's aspirations and internal unity. Therefore, it is said: To make people settle down, we cannot rely on territorial boundaries; to consolidate national defense, we cannot rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers; to deter the world, we cannot rely on the strength of weapons and equipment.

For those who practice benevolent government, more people will help and support them. For those who do not practice benevolent government, there will be fewer people who will help and support them. If the number of people who help him reaches the extreme, all his brothers and sisters will betray him.

There were so many people who helped him, and everyone in the world surrendered to him. On the condition that everyone in the world submits to him, he attacks those who have betrayed his brothers and sisters. Therefore, those who implement benevolent government will definitely win if they do not fight. 4. Translation of the ancient text that the weather is not as favorable as the favorable geography

Original text Mencius said: "The favorable weather is not as favorable as the favorable geography, and the favorable geography is not as favorable as the people."

A city of three miles and a country of seven miles can be surrounded and attacked without victory. . If you attack the enemy's ring, you will definitely get the right time; however, the one who cannot win is because the right time is not as good as the favorable terrain.

The city is not too high, the pond is not too deep, and the army is not too strong. There is not much rice and millet, but if you leave it, the geographical advantages are not as good as the harmony. Therefore, it is said: the people of the region do not rely on the boundaries of the border, the country is not consolidated by the dangers of mountains and rivers, and the world is not dominated by the benefits of military revolution.

Those who have attained the Way will be helped a lot, and those who have lost the Way will be helped by few. When there is little help, relatives will be there for them; when there is a lot of help, the world will obey them.

If the people of the world are obeyed, attack the relatives. Therefore, if a gentleman does not fight, he will win." - Translation of "Mencius Gongsun Chou" Mencius said: "A favorable time and climate are not as good as a favorable terrain, and a favorable terrain is not as good as the concerted efforts of people." p>

A small city with an inner wall of three miles and a wall of seven miles cannot be conquered from all sides. Since it is besieged from all sides, there will always be good opportunities or good weather, but it still cannot be conquered. This shows that the timing and timing are favorable. The climate is not as favorable as the favorable terrain.

Another situation is that the city wall is not not high, the moat is not not deep, the weapons and armor are not extremely powerful and strong, and the food and grass are not insufficient, but they still abandon the city and flee. , which shows that favorable terrain is not as good as the concerted efforts of people. Therefore, the people cannot be restrained by sealing the border, the country cannot be preserved by dangerous mountains and rivers, and the power of the world cannot be achieved by sharp weapons.

People who have morality will get more help, and people who lose morality will get less help.

When there are too few people to help, even relatives will rebel; when there are too many people to help, everyone will obey.

To attack a person whose relatives will betray you with a force that is obeyed by all the people in the world, you will definitely be invincible without fighting. ". 5. The weather and season are not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat. The weather and season are not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat. The geographical situation is conducive to combat. , can't compare to the people's aspiration and internal unity in battle.

A small city with a distance of three miles and an outer city with a distance of seven miles can't win if it is surrounded and attacked. The weather and season are favorable. Although the conditions are good, we cannot win this way because the weather and season that are conducive to combat are not as good as the geographical situation that is conducive to combat.

The city wall is not too high, the moat is not too deep, and the weapons and equipment are not poor. There was not much food, but the defenders abandoned the city and fled. This was because the geographical situation that was favorable for the battle was not as good as the people's will and internal unity during the battle.

So it is said: let the people settle down. , cannot rely on territorial boundaries, cannot rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers to consolidate national defense, cannot rely on the strength of weapons and equipment to deter the world, those who practice benevolent government will have more people to help and support them, and those who do not practice benevolent government will have fewer people to help and support them. . If the number of people who help him reaches the extreme, all his brothers and sisters will betray him. If the number of people who help him reaches the extreme, everyone in the world will submit to him, and he will attack those who have all his brothers and sisters who will betray him. Either the weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people. "

A city of three miles and a country of seven miles, if you attack it in a circle, you will not be victorious. If you attack it in a circle, you will definitely have the right time; however, the one who cannot win will have the right time and the right place.

The city is not not high, the pond is not not deep, the military revolution is not not strong, and the rice and grain are not not abundant; if we leave it, the terrain is not as good as the people.

Therefore, it is said. : The people of the region do not rely on the borders of the country, do not rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers to consolidate the country, and do not use the benefits of military revolution to control the world. Those who have gained the Tao will have many help, and those who have lost the Tao will have little help. If the world obeys him, he will attack his relatives. Therefore, if a gentleman does not fight, he will win."

2. Translation:

Mencius said. : "Getting the season and climate suitable for fighting is not as important as getting the terrain that is conducive to fighting, and getting the terrain that is conducive to fighting is not as important as winning the unity of the people."

(For example, there is a city with a radius of three miles, and the outer city is three miles wide. It is a small city with a radius of seven miles. The enemy surrounded and attacked it but could not win. (Since the enemy came) to surround and attack it, the season and climate must be suitable for fighting, but there is no victory. This just shows that the favorable season and climate are not as good as the favorable geographical situation.

(Another example, another city) The city wall is not too high, the moat is not not deep, the weapons and armor (of the soldiers) are not not strong and sharp, and the food is not insufficient; but the soldiers guarding the city are not not insufficient. Abandoning the city and leaving it shows that the favorable geographical situation is not as good as the unity of the people.

Therefore, we cannot rely on delineated border lines to restrict people (to settle down but not move away), we cannot rely on the steepness of mountains and rivers to consolidate national defense, and we cannot rely on the sharpness of weapons and the strength of armor to establish prestige. If a person implements benevolent government and wins the hearts of the people, more people will help and support him; if he implements tyranny and loses the people's support, fewer people will help and support him. If the lack of help reaches the extreme, (even) relatives (will) betray him; if the number of people who help him reaches the extreme, everyone in the world will obey him. Use the power that everyone in the world obeys to attack those who betray him (even his relatives). Therefore, (in this case) the righteous gentleman will either not fight, or he will win immediately in a battle. ” 7. Please explain the following ancient text

Mencius said: “The weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people ①. A city of three miles and a country of seven miles can be attacked in a circle but cannot be defeated. If you attack the enemy's ring, you will definitely get the right time. However, if you don't win, the right time is not as good as the right place. The city is not not high, the pond is not not deep, the military revolution is not not strong and profitable, and the rice and millet are not not abundant; if we leave it by force, the geographical advantage is not as good as the people. Therefore, it is said: The people of the territory (6) do not rely on the boundaries of the frontier, the country does not rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers (7), and the power of the world does not rely on the benefits of military revolution. Those who have attained the truth will receive much help, while those who have lost the truth will receive little help. When there is little help, relatives will be there (8); when there is much help, the world will follow. If the people of the world are in obedience, they will attack their relatives. Therefore, a gentleman has (9) If he does not fight, he will win in battle. "

Notes

① The right time, the right place, and the right people: "Gouzi·Wangba Pian" says: "If a farmer is simple but incompetent, he will not lose the right time when he is above, and he will not lose when he is below. Lose the land and gain the advantage, but win the people and everything will be done. "The "Tianshi" that Gouzi refers to refers to the farming season, "geographical advantage" refers to the fertile soil, and "harmony" refers to the division of labor among people. And the "Tianshi" mentioned by Mencius here refers to the timing of the battle, climate, etc.; " "Pographical location" refers to dangerous mountains and rivers, strong cities, etc.; "harmony" refers to people's aspiration, internal unity, etc. ② A city of three miles, a country of seven miles: the inner city is called "city", and the outer city is called "guo". Inner and outer cities The ratio is generally a city of three miles and a country of seven miles. ③Pond: that is, the moat.

④Bing: Weapons, referring to offensive weapons such as spears, swords, and arrows. Leather: leather, nails. Ancient armor was made of leather, but also of copper and iron. (5) Commission: abandon. (6) Territory citizens: restrict people. Domain, boundary. (8) Side: Same as "rebellion". (9) There is: or, either.

The siege cannot be broken. Since the siege is from all sides, there will always be good times or good weather, but it still cannot be broken. This shows that the favorable timing and weather are not as good as the favorable terrain. Another situation is that the city wall is not not high. The moat was not deep, the weapons and armor were not extremely powerful and strong, and the food and grass were not insufficient, but they still abandoned the city and fled. This shows that the favorable terrain is not as good as the concerted efforts of the people. Therefore, the common people cannot rely on blocking the border. A country cannot be protected by dangerous mountains and rivers, nor can it be achieved by sharp weapons. Those who have moral principles will receive more help, while those who lose moral principles will receive less help. When the number of people is extremely small, even relatives will rebel; when the number of people helping is extremely large, everyone in the world will obey. To attack someone who even relatives will rebel against, it must be without fighting. Already, the battle is invincible."

Interpretation

The relationship between heaven, earth and man has been a matter of concern to people throughout the ages. Which of the three is the most important has become a topic of discussion. As we quoted in the notes, Xunzi once discussed the issues of time, location, and people from the perspective of agricultural production. But he did not distinguish who is important and who is not important, but pays equal attention to all three and is indispensable.

Mencius here mainly analyzes and discusses the relationship between the weather, the right place, and the right people from the military aspect, and his point of view is clear: "The right time is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the right people." Among the three, "Humanity" is the most important factor that plays a decisive role, "geographical convenience" comes second, and "timing" comes second. This is separate from his consistent thought of attaching importance to people's subjective initiative. At the same time, it is also inseparable from his purpose of discussing the time, location, people, and relationships. inseparable from the purpose. It was precisely from emphasizing the importance of "harmony" that he came to the conclusion that "the right person will get more help, and the unjust person will get less help". This led the issue from military to political, and in fact returned to his "cliché" topic of "benevolent government".

According to Mencius, the common people cannot be restrained by sealing borders, nor can a country be preserved by relying on mountains and rivers to overcome obstacles. Therefore, there is no way out by closing the country to the outside world. We need to reform, we need to open up, we need to improve our national strength, and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. As long as this is achieved, "those who have gained the Tao will be helped more". If the help is reached to the extreme, people all over the world will obey and submit. Then there will inevitably be a situation like what Confucius said - "The people from all over the world will come carrying their sons." ("The Analects of Confucius·Zilu") People from all over the world come to apply to study abroad, apply to do business, and even bring their wives and children. Why is there no need to "enclose borders" when applying for immigration and settlement?

"The right person will get more help, but the unjust person will get less help" has become a famous saying. , so much so that we still often use it to evaluate international relations and condemn hegemonists. Of course, "the right time is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people" is also a famous saying, and it is also more widely used in business competition and sports. The enthusiasm of the game, especially the football game, fully demonstrates that the philosophy contained in it is rich, profound and broad.

As the saying goes, "When people unite, mountains can move."

"Who said that "people and people" are not the most important asset?