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Surely you've come across the famous words of Confucius: 'Tu thân, tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ'. So, how do you interpret this saying?
'Tu thân, Tề gia, Trị quốc, Bình thiên hạ' are the 4 steps within the 8 steps to execute the 3 principles of Confucianism. To fulfill these 3 principles, all 8 steps must be followed; merely mentioning the latter 4 indicates incomplete understanding. Those 8 steps are:
- Cách vật: It's about always being in touch, studying objects and events closely to understand their true essence, right from wrong.
- Trí tri: Always contemplate to understand what you have perceived.
- Thành ý: It means not deceiving oneself or others, being the same inside and out.
- Chính tâm: Teach oneself to always think straight, act uprightly, and control oneself.
- Tu Thân: Always be strict with oneself, rectify shortcomings, avoid being conservative, always listen to recognize mistakes to improve oneself.
- Tề gia: Cultivate the family, make it good, orderly, and respectable.
- Trị quốc: Govern, take care of the country with regulations and principles.
- Bình yên hạ: Ensure peace for the people, the world in harmony, and people's hearts in agreement.
In Chinese culture, to achieve 'tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ,' one must first engage in 'Tu thân.' Tu thân serves as the root, with 'filial piety' as its foundation, as loyalty stems from filial piety. Loving one's homeland is the prerequisite for loving the country, and fulfilling filial duties enables true loyalty. Tu thân is the fundamental goal in the aforementioned 8 steps, the target that 'cách vật, trí tri, and thành ý' must achieve. Only with good self-cultivation can one truly discuss 'tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ.' People are often swayed by personal emotions, leading to mistakes and losing focus. Tu thân is about nurturing and perfecting oneself, controlling emotions with rationality, without allowing them to dominate.
'Tề gia' means cultivating one's family and clan, making them better. The family is a cell of society; only with a stable family can one consider 'trị quốc, bình thiên hạ.'
'Trị quốc, Bình thiên hạ' means governing the country with regulations and principles to bring peace to the people. Leaders who seek to lead the people and reform the country must be ethical. Only those with ethics can win the people's hearts, which in turn secures land and wealth, providing benefits to the people.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of governing the country. Kings like Nghiêu and Thuấn used their benevolence to manage the world, inspiring goodwill among the people. On the other hand, Kings Kiệt and Trụ used violence to govern, demanding kindness from the people but causing chaos. Therefore, effective leadership requires appropriate actions and personal goodness to persuade others to follow wholeheartedly.
Thus, to achieve 'Tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ,' it all relies on 'self-cultivation.' Only with a good self can one serve as a role model for family learning and emulation. Family, as a cell of society, can only consider governing the people and the country if the family is guided. The head of a nation must have ethical and humane policies to bring peace to the people.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you have grasped the meaning of 'Tu thân, tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ,' understanding the importance of 'self-cultivation,' thereby striving harder to improve oneself.
