天命

MandateofHeaven

天的命令与赐予。“天命”主要包含三种不同含义：其一，指天对于人事的命令。命令的内容最初集中于王权的更替，即上天授命有德者征讨并取代失德之君，享有至高无上的权力和福禄。其二，指命运，具有不可抗拒之义，标志着人力的限度。其三，指天赋予人的禀性。《中庸》称“天命之谓性”。宋儒发挥这一思想，以“天命之性”指称人禀受于天的纯善的本性。

ThetermmeansorderandbestowmentfromHeaven.“Mandateofheaven”mainlycontainsthreedifferentmeanings:Thefirstistheorderofheavenoverhumanaffairs.Suchorderfirstofallfocusesonachangeofthesupremeruler’sauthority:Heavenempowersthevirtuoustoattackandreplacearulerwhohaslosthisvirtue,andthusenjoythehighestandunsurpassedpowerandbenefits.Secondly,mandateofheavenmeansfate,whichisirresistibleandimposeslimitonhumanpower.Thirdly,thetermindicatesthenaturaldispositionbestowedbyheavenuponhumanbeing.AccordingtoTheDoctrineoftheMean,“Mandateofheavenendowsonewithhisnature.”Song-dynastyConfucianscholarsdevelopedthisidea,proposingthathumannaturewasthe“natureofmandateofheaven,”thatis,theinherentpureandgoodnatureonereceivesfromheaven.

引例CITATIONS

天命靡常。（《诗经·大雅·文王》）

Thepowerandfortunebestowedupononebyheavenarenotpermanent.(TheBookofSongs)

莫之为而为者天也，莫之致而至者命也。（《孟子·万章上》）

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