"Shun Li Cheng Zhang" (Following the Principles and Achieving Order) originates from The Analects: Zi Zhang, where Zigong evaluates Confucius: "When the Master obtained a state or a family, it was said: 'He established it, and it stood; he guided it, and it progressed; he pacified it, and people came; he mobilized it, and harmony prevailed.'" Although the idiom itself does not appear directly, later generations distilled its meaning to form "Shun Li Cheng Zhang." Li refers to reason and principle; Zhang refers to order and method. The idiom means: by following the inherent principles and laws of things, one naturally achieves order and success. It emphasizes that when one acts in accordance with logic and common sense, without forcing or acting recklessly, the result comes naturally, like water flowing into a channel. It is commonly used to describe contexts such as essay writing, the development of events, and problem-solving, and carries a positive connotation, embodying the wisdom of "following the Way of Nature" and "governing through non-action" in traditional Chinese culture. When used, it mostly indicates that the process is natural and the result is reasonable, making it convincing.
📝 Example
1. He usually accumulated a large amount of material, so this time writing the article followed a natural course, and he finished it quickly. (refers to following the rules of writing and letting the text take shape naturally)
2. As long as the preliminary preparation is sufficient, the success of the project will be a matter of course. (refers to being logical and naturally successful)