📖 Meaning
Government affairs run smoothly and the people live in harmony. It describes a thriving, well-governed society where the administration is effective and the populace is content and united.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from 'Record of Yueyang Tower' (岳阳楼记) by Fan Zhongyan, a renowned statesman and literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty. The essay recounts how Teng Zijing, a demoted official, governed Yuezhou so effectively that 'the following year, governance was smooth and the people harmonious, and all previously neglected undertakings were revived' (越明年,政通人和,百废俱兴). Fan Zhongyan used this phrase to praise good governance and social prosperity. The idiom has since become a classic expression for an ideal state of political and social well-being.
💡 Example Usage
当今社会政通人和,百姓安居乐业。
In today's society, governance is smooth and the people are harmonious, with everyone living and working in peace and contentment.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 政通人和
- Pinyin: zhèng tōng rén hé
- Literal Translation: governance unobstructed, people harmonious
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4