while water can carry a boat , it can also overturn it

Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it

The synonym "carrying a boat and overturning a boat" generally means that water can carry a boat and also overturn a boat. Water can carry a boat and overturn a boat. It comes from "Duke AI of Xunzi". It means that rulers are like boats and common people are like water. Water can not only make the boat sail safely, but also overturn and engulf it. If things are used properly, it will be beneficial, otherwise it will be harmful.

source

（1） The original text is a dialogue between Confucius and Duke AI of Lu. Duke AI of Lu asked Confucius, "I was born in a deep palace and grew up in women's hands. I didn't know about sorrow, worry, labor, fear or danger." Confucius said: "what you ask, what you ask, what you ask, how can you know?" He said, "it's not my son who has nothing to hear." Confucius said, "when you enter the gate of the temple and go to the right, you climb up the steps of the temple, look up at the building, and see several banquets. The utensils are there, but the people are dead. If you think about it, how can you not come to mourn? If you have no idea how to deal with it, and if you listen to it, you will not be able to deal with it? If you listen to the court peacefully and retreat at the end of the day, there must be some sons and grandsons of the princes in your last court. If you think about this, how can you not come? When you go out of the four gates of Lu to look at the four suburbs of Lu, you will have to cover up the emptiness of subjugation. If you think about it, you will be afraid of the general? And Qiu Wen, the king, the boat also; common people, water also. Water will carry the boat, and water will overturn it. If you think about the danger, how will it not come? " (2) there is a saying in Xunzi · Wang Zhi Pian: "the common people will settle down, and then the gentleman will settle down. It is said: "the king is the boat; the common people are the water; the water carries the boat, and the water overturns the boat." (3) in the early Tang Dynasty, Wei Zheng and Tang Taizong quoted this view many times. See "Zhenguan dignitaries on political system": "I also heard the old saying:" the king, the boat; the man, the water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. " Your majesty thinks it formidable, just like the decree. " (4) admonishing Taizong Shisi Shu written by Wei Zheng of Tang Dynasty: "resentment is not great, but people can be feared; it is advisable to be deep and cautious when carrying a boat."

Basic explanation

The water supporting as shipwreck. (water can carry a boat, but also overturn it) the monarch is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can make the boat sail safely and sink as well.

explicate

1、 The water supporting as shipwreck. (water can carry a boat, also can overturn a boat) 2. The monarch is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can make the boat sail safely and sink as well. (3) it means "water can carry a boat and water can overturn a boat". It is also called "water can carry a boat and overturn a boat", which is called "carrying a boat and overturning a boat". It means that if things are used properly, it will be beneficial, otherwise, it will be harmful. It means that the people's will determines their life and death.

story

During the Warring States period, Xun Kuang, a famous thinker from Handan, said in his immortal book "Xunzi king system" that "the king is the boat; the common people are the water; the water carries the boat, and the water capsizes the boat." In the later period of Tang Zhenguan, Wei Zheng said in his famous admonition to Taizong shisishu: "resentment is not great, but people are to be feared. We should be careful when we are in trouble. " It means: resentment does not lie in the size, terrible only in people's departure. Water can carry ships and capsize them, so we should be very careful. Tang Taizong appreciated Xunzi's and Wei Zheng's views very much. He quoted and developed this view many times when he discussed the governance of the country with the monarchs and ministers. He said in his article on Regime: "the king is the boat; the man is the water; the water can carry the boat and overturn it." Xunzi, Wei Zheng and Tang Taizong all deeply understood the great power of the people and emphasized the importance of relying on the power of the people. Their brilliant thought was accepted by the ruling class of all ages. It has played an active role in promoting the rulers' respect for the people's conditions and public opinions and assuming power for the people. The idiom "water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn a boat" and "carrying a boat and overturning a boat" originated from the stories of Xunzi, Weizheng and Tang Taizong about the relationship between the monarch and the people and their importance.

Poetic expression

"Broken time · Jianghe River" (zuohe River) it is easy to pour the sea and row the mountains, but it is difficult to crack the cliff and break the dam. It is often quiet and connected with all things, and occasionally it rises up and rolls up the gully. Carrying a boat also overturns it. Pieces of cooking smoke, green field, surging life liquid source. If you want to let go of pollution, you will not be greedy. No worries, no worries. - --- "sea of poems" 2009-10