天视自我民视

天視自我民視

Tiān shì zì wǒ mín shì

quotation

Meanings

1 Heaven sees through what the people see
2 (classical political theory) Heaven's mandate expresses itself through the eyes of the common people — popular will is legitimacy
3 (lit.) Heaven sees from our people's seeing

Characters

Examples

天视自我民视，民心所向就是天意。

Tiānshìzìwǒmínshì, mínxīn suǒ xiàng jiùshì tiānyì.

'Heaven sees through what the people see' — the will of the people is the will of Heaven.

古代政治哲学讲天视自我民视，强调政权的合法性来自人民。

Gǔdài zhèngzhì zhéxué jiǎng tiānshìzìwǒmínshì, qiángdiào zhèngquán de héfǎxìng láizì rénmín.

Classical political philosophy held that 'Heaven sees through what the people see,' stressing that a regime's legitimacy comes from the people.

Tips

history

From 《尚书·泰誓中》 (quoted also by Mencius in 《孟子·万章上》): 天视自我民视，天听自我民听 (Heaven sees through what our people see; Heaven hears through what our people hear). One of the earliest and most important classical formulations of popular legitimacy — the ancient basis for the Mandate of Heaven (天命) theory, in which a dynasty that loses popular support has lost Heaven's favor.

usage

Almost always quoted in the paired form 天视自我民视，天听自我民听. 自我 here is classical '(starting) from our...,' not modern 'self.' A stock reference for vox populi, vox dei arguments.

Stroke Order

天 tiān

视 shì

自 zì

我 wǒ

民 mín