為國

為國

1. (literary) to govern a state; to run a country; to administer state affairs

   • 「夫子何哂由也？」子曰：「爲國以禮，其言不讓，是故哂之。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     「夫子何哂由也？」子曰：「为国以礼，其言不让，是故哂之。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     “Fūzǐ hé shěn Yóu yě?” Zǐ yuē: “Wéiguó yǐ lǐ, qí yán bù ràng, shìgù shěn zhī.” [Pinyin]

     "Master, why did you smile at You?" "The management of a state demands the rules of propriety. His words were not humble; therefore I smiled at him."

   • 故善為國者，馭民如父母之愛子，如兄之愛弟，見其飢寒則為之憂，見其勞苦則為之悲；賞罰如加諸身，賦斂如取於己：此愛民之道也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     故善为国者，驭民如父母之爱子，如兄之爱弟，见其饥寒则为之忧，见其劳苦则为之悲；赏罚如加诸身，赋敛如取于己：此爱民之道也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: Six Secret Teachings, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Gù shàn wéiguó zhě, yù mín rú fùmǔ zhī ài zǐ, rú xiōng zhī ài dì, jiàn qí jīhán zé wèi zhī yōu, jiàn qí láokǔ zé wèi zhī bēi; shǎngfá rú jiā zhū shēn, fùliǎn rú qǔ yú jǐ: cǐ ài mín zhī dào yě. [Pinyin]

     So a ruler good at statecraft governs the people as parents love their children or as an older brother loves his younger brother. When they see their hunger and cold, they worry about them. When they see their labors and suffering, they grieve for them. You should implement awards and punishments as if implementing them on yourself. You should impose taxes as if imposing them on yourself. These are the ways and techniques to love the people.

   • 悲夫！有如此之勢，而為秦人積威之所劫，日削月割，以趨於亡。為國者無使為積威之所劫哉！ [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     悲夫！有如此之势，而为秦人积威之所劫，日削月割，以趋于亡。为国者无使为积威之所劫哉！ [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: mid 11^th century, 蘇洵 (Su Xun),《六國論》(On the Six Fallen States)

     Bēi fú! Yǒu rúcǐ zhī shì, ér wéi Qín rén jīwēi zhī suǒ jié, rì xuē yuè gē, yǐ qūyú wáng. Wéiguó zhě wúshǐ wéi jīwēi zhī suǒ jié zāi! [Pinyin]

     Alas, that they, with such an originally advantageous situation in their favor, should have been overwhelmed by Qin's bluster, ceding land day in and day out and ending in their common collapse! How I wish that the rulers of a country would not be intimidated by their enemy's bluff!

為國 • (wiguk) (hangeul 위국)

1. alternative form of 爲國 (“for the country”)