not credible unless supported by evidence(wú zhēng bù xìn)

not credible unless supported by evidence

In Chinese, the Pinyin is w ú zh ē NGB ù x ì n, which means that words or things can not be trusted without evidence. From the book of rites, the doctrine of the mean.

The origin of Idioms

In the book of rites, the doctrine of the mean: "those who are superior to others are good at doing nothing, trusting nothing and not following the people." In the book of rites, the doctrine of the mean: "those who are superior to others are good at doing nothing, trusting nothing and not following the people."

Idioms and allusions

original text

There are three things in the world! Those who are superior to others are good at doing nothing, trusting nothing, and trusting the people. The lower Yan, though good, does not respect, does not respect, does not believe, does not believe in people's obedience. Therefore, the way of a gentleman should be based on the body, enlist the common people, examine the three kings but not the Miao, build the heaven and the earth but not the Miao, judge the ghosts and gods without doubt, wait for the sage but not the Ding, judge the ghosts and gods without doubt, and know the heaven; wait for the sage but not the man. Therefore, a gentleman's action is the way of the world, his action is the law of the world, and his speech is the law of the world. If you are far away, you will be hopeful; if you are near, you will not be tired. "There is no evil there, there is no shooting here. In the past few days and nights, I will be honored forever. " There is no gentleman who is not like this, and fleas are well-known in the world.

translation

If we can manage the world well, there will be no big mistakes in the three important things, that is, to discuss etiquette, to formulate laws and regulations, and to examine writing standards! Although the people in the upper position behave well, if they don't have verification, they can't be convinced. If they can't be convinced, the common people won't listen to them. Although the people at the lower level behave well, they can't convince people because they don't have noble status. If they can't convince people, the common people won't listen to them. Therefore, when a gentleman governs the world, he should be based on his own moral behavior and be verified by the common people. There is no absurdity in studying the practices of the former kings of Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, standing between heaven and earth, questioning ghosts and gods, and serving saints after a hundred generations. To question ghosts and gods without doubt is to know the principle of heaven; to serve saints after a hundred generations is to know human nature. Therefore, Jun Yu's behavior can become the forerunner of the world from generation to generation, his behavior can become the law of the world from generation to generation, and his language can become the rule of the world from generation to generation. It has prestige in the distance and is not offensive in the near. "The book of songs says," there's no one to hate, here's no one to be bored, working day and night, in order to maintain a good reputation. " There is no one who can gain fame in the world early without doing so. interpretation: this chapter inherits the meaning of "being proud". To win people's trust and make people listen, it's like asking the government to do practical things for the people. No matter how grand your plan is, do one or two things and show us some achievements: where is your road? Where is the house you built? Where is your school? Is the market booming? Are prices going up? And so on. Only in this way can we achieve the goal of "hope in the distance, never tire in the near", and become the public servant of the common people. Theoretically speaking, what this chapter emphasizes is still a practical point of view. "Based on the body, enlist the common people", which is based on their own moral behavior and verified by the common people. This is the combination of subjective and objective, the unity of theory and practice, with objective practice to test their own subjective intention, appreciation, theory is in line with the interests and wishes of the people. So that one's behavior can become the forerunner of the world from generation to generation, his behavior can become the law of the world from generation to generation, and his language can become the criterion of the world from generation to generation. There is, of course, the Confucian yearning for greatness and loftiness and the desire for immortality, that is, the three immortal pursuits of morality, meritorious service and speech advocated by ancient Chinese intellectuals.

Idiom usage

In the book of rites, the doctrine of the mean: "although the superior is good, he does not believe in the people, and he does not believe in the people." The so-called Xia Li and Yin Li have no evidence in literature. Therefore, what he attached importance to was the Zhou ceremony of "Yu Yu Wen Ya". Guo Moruo's ten critical books: Criticism of Confucius and Mohism II

Chinese PinYin : wú zhēng bù xìn