"Min Gui Jun Qing" (The people are the most important, the ruler is the least important) originates from "Mencius: Jin Xin II," where the original text reads: "The people are the most important, the state comes next, and the ruler is the least important." This is the core proposition of Mencius's philosophy of benevolent governance, meaning that in the hierarchy of political values, the people hold the highest importance, the state (the altars of soil and grain) comes second, and the ruler is relatively the least significant. It does not deny the existence of the ruler, but emphasizes that the ruler's legitimacy derives from the people's support, and that the ruler should take the people as the foundation and practice benevolent governance; otherwise, the ruler loses the basis for ruling. This idiom is often used to discuss political ethics, statecraft philosophy, or evaluate historical figures, carrying a distinct people-oriented character and progressive significance. In terms of emotional coloring, it expresses respect for the power of the people and criticism of autocratic monarchical power, with a solemn, serious, and commendatory tendency. It is mostly used in political commentary, historical criticism, or academic discussion, and can also be employed to praise leaders who value people's livelihood.
📝 Example
1. The idea of "the people being more important than the ruler," proposed by Mencius, had a profound influence on enlightened monarchs throughout later dynasties. (Meaning that the people are more important than the ruler.)
2. When discussing ancient political philosophy, he particularly praised the concept of "the people being more important than the ruler," considering it the essence of the traditional people-oriented thought. (Meaning that the people's status is higher than that of the ruler.)