順天

Attested in Pre-Qin texts.

順天

1. (literary) to accord with Heaven, to comply with Heaven

   • 禮以順天，天之道也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     礼以顺天，天之道也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg

     Lǐ yǐ shùntiān, tiān zhī dào yě. [Pinyin]

     To comply with Heaven through ritual propriety is the correct Way of Heaven.

   • 順天，阜財，懌眾，利地，右兵，是謂五慮。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     顺天，阜财，怿众，利地，右兵，是谓五虑。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Methods of the Sima, circa 4^th century BCE

     Shùntiān, fùcái, yìzhòng, lìdì, yòubīng, shì wèi wǔlǜ. [Pinyin]

     Accord with Heaven; make material resources abundant; bring joy to the people; take advantage of the resources of Earth; and value military weapons. These are termed the “Five Plans.”

順天

1. (literary) in accord with the ways of heaven

   • 順天者有其功，逆天者懷其凶，不可復振也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     顺天者有其功，逆天者怀其凶，不可复振也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Guanzi, 5^th century BCE to 220 CE

     Shùntiān zhě yǒu qí gōng, nìtiān zhě huái qí xiōng, bùkě fùzhèn yě. [Pinyin]

     Those who accord with Heaven will retain their achievements. Those who act contrary to Heaven will embrace misfortune and cannot be saved.

   • 順天者存，逆天者亡。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     顺天者存，逆天者亡。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Shùntiān zhě cún, nìtiān zhě wáng. [Pinyin]

     Those who comply with Heaven survive; those who act contrary to Heaven perish.