This
is an important concept put forward by Sunzi, the great strategist of ancient
China. No matter what their position or level, the people in a state, an army
or even a work unit should share the same aspiration, will and goal. Only then
can all their wisdom be pooled together and their combat capacity be brought to
the full. This concept stresses the importance of human spirit and solidarity, embodying
one of the essential Chinese conceptions–“people first.”
This term refers to the yearning for external objects. Yu(欲) is the desire for external things such as food and beauty. This desire is a natural instinct,so it should be satisfied to an appropriate degree and be restrained at the same time. Excessive desire can be harmful to a person, create disputes between people and cause disorder. Desire also refers to the pursuit of virtue, something that is inherent part of human instinct.
Literally, this term means “united, we’ll be as solid as a fortress.” With concerted effort, people collectively can generate tremendous strength and be able to overcome all difficulties. Zhi, the second character in the term, means will, and cheng, the last character, means the wall of a fortress. The whole term implies three most important elements: ( 1 ) the factor of human capability; ( 2 ) human spirit and courage; and ( 3 ) unity of the people.
A ruler has the duty to keep people together. According to ancient Chinese philosopher Xunzi (313?-238 BC), people by nature want to live in community.People cannot survive if they go against this nature. Keeping people together so that they form a community or a society is the fundamental duty of a ruler. This term defines the relationship between a ruler and the people, and implies the way in which a society or a state should be structured.
When two people are of the same mind, their combined strength is like a sharp blade which can cut through metal. “Two people” here could mean two brothers, husband and wife, or any two persons working together. “Of the same mind” here means the people sharing the same vision and thinking. This metaphorical term means that people of the same mind will create great strength and can overcome any obstacles. It stresses the importance of concerted efforts and cooperation, which will generate great power.