而众星共之

而眾星共之
ér zhòng xīng gǒng zhī
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 and all the stars revolve around it
  2. 2 while every other star orbits around it - Confucius's image of virtuous rule

Examples

HSK 7-9
Kǒngzǐ shuō wéi zhèng yǐ dé, pìrú běi chén, jū qí suǒ ér zhòng xīng gǒng zhī.
Confucius said: 'govern by virtue - like the Pole Star, which stays in its place while all the stars revolve around it.'
HSK 7-9
Zhè jù ér zhòng xīng gǒng zhī, cháng bèi yònglái bǐyù lǐngdǎo de déwàng.
The phrase 'and the stars revolve around it' is often used to describe a leader's moral prestige.

Tips

history
From 《论语·为政》, opening passage: 为政以德,譬如北辰,居其所而众星共之 - 'governing with virtue is like the Pole Star: staying in its place while all the stars revolve around it.' The model of effortless, moral leadership.
usage
here is read gǒng - a classical loan for (to encircle / pay homage), not the common gòng 'together.' Never quoted in isolation - it's a fragment that only makes sense as the tail of the full passage.

Stroke Order

ér
zhòng
xīng
gòng
zhī