天子之事也 (tiānzǐzhīshìyě): this is a matter belonging to the Son of Heaven

Meanings

1 this is a matter belonging to the Son of Heaven
2 (fig.) marks something as properly within the emperor's sole authority — used by Mencius to critique rulers who overstep or underperform
3 (lit.) Son-of-Heaven's affair (final particle)

Characters

天

son (天子 = Son of Heaven, the emperor)

之

zhī

's (classical possessive)

(classical final particle)

Examples

孟子说征伐他国本是天子之事也，诸侯不能擅自为之。

Mèngzǐ shuō zhēngfá tā guó běn shì tiānzǐ zhī shì yě, zhūhóu bùnéng shànzì wèi zhī.

Mencius says waging war on another state is originally 'a matter of the Son of Heaven'; feudal lords cannot do so on their own.

古书中说春秋，天子之事也，孔子作之以正名分。

Gǔshū zhōng shuō Chūnqiū, tiānzǐ zhī shì yě, Kǒngzǐ zuò zhī yǐ zhèng míngfèn.

The ancient texts say: 'The Spring and Autumn Annals are the Son of Heaven's business — Confucius composed them to rectify rank and role.'

Tips

history

From 《孟子·滕文公下》(Mencius, Teng Wen Gong II, c. 300 BCE): 世衰道微，邪说暴行有作...孔子惧，作《春秋》。《春秋》，天子之事也 (The world declined, the Way weakened; heresies and violence arose... Confucius was alarmed, and composed the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Spring and Autumn Annals are the Son of Heaven's affair). Mencius argues that passing moral judgment on rulers was traditionally the emperor's prerogative — Confucius, lacking the throne, nevertheless took this up through historical writing, which made the work either seditious or sage-like depending on viewpoint.

usage

也 = classical final particle marking assertion. The phrase 天子之事 (the Son of Heaven's affair) indicates matters of the highest political / moral authority. Most frequently quoted in the Mencius passage about Confucius and the Spring and Autumn Annals.