居庙堂之高

居廟堂之高

jūmiàotángzhīgāo

phrase

Meanings

1 to occupy a high place in the imperial court
2 to hold high office at court (contrasted with 处江湖之远, being in the provinces)

Characters

's (classical 的)

high (position)

Examples

居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君。

Jū miàotáng zhī gāo zé yōu qí mín, chǔ jiānghú zhī yuǎn zé yōu qí jūn.

When holding high court office, worry about the people; when far out in the provinces, worry about the sovereign.

无论居庙堂之高还是处江湖之远，他都心系国家。

Wúlùn jū miàotáng zhī gāo háishì chǔ jiānghú zhī yuǎn, tā dōu xīn xì guójiā.

Whether at court or out in the provinces, his heart is always with the nation.

Tips

history

From Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹's 《岳阳楼记》 (Northern Song): ‘居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君。’ (High at court, worry about the people; far in the wilds, worry about the ruler.) The essay's other iconic line is 先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐.

usage

庙堂 = the imperial ancestral temple / court, i.e. high government. Always quoted with its parallel clause 处江湖之远.

Stroke Order

居 jū

庙 miào

堂 táng

之 zhī

高 gāo