📖 Meaning
燮 means to harmonize or adjust, and 理 means to govern or manage. The idiom originally referred to the duty of chief ministers to assist the emperor in governing state affairs, using the balancing of yin and yang as a metaphor for maintaining harmony and order in governance. It describes the role of high-ranking officials in statecraft.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Book of Documents' (尚书·周官), a foundational Confucian classic from the Zhou dynasty. The text describes the establishment of the Three Dukes (太师, 太傅, 太保) as the highest-ranking ministers, whose duty was to discuss the Way, govern the state, and harmonize yin and yang. In ancient Chinese political philosophy, yin and yang represented all opposing yet complementary forces in nature and society; a minister who could balance them was considered essential to a well-ordered realm. The idiom thus became a revered description of the prime minister's role in assisting the ruler.
💡 Example Usage
身为宰相，当燮理阴阳，辅佐君王治理天下。
As the prime minister, one should harmonize yin and yang, assisting the sovereign in governing the realm.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 燮理阴阳
- Pinyin: xiè lǐ yīn yáng
- Literal Translation: harmonize, govern, yin, yang
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4