整理/王璟瑄 制图/李晗
保民而王
能让百姓过上安稳日子，进而实现天下归心。“王”这个字，在古汉语里并非泛指那些手握最高权力的统治者，它特指那些通晓天地人运行规律、深受民众拥戴的领袖。所谓“保民”，核心在于爱民与养民，既要保障百姓的生计资源，又要提供教育机会，让大家能安身立命、有序生产。这不仅是政权最基础的功能，更是凝聚民心、确立统治合法性的根本所在，也是儒家“民本”与“仁政”理念的最直接体现。
Protect the People and then Rule as a King
If one can make the people live in peace and happiness, he can unify all the land. In ancient China, a king was not just the one who held the highest power. Rather, a king was the one who clearly understood the fundamental principle of maintaining harmony with heaven and earth as well as other humans, and enjoyed popular support. To "protect the people" is to love and care for them, ensuring that they obtain the means of survival, receive education, and live and work in peace. To "protect the people" is the primary function of the state or government, a prerequisite for winning the people's hearts and minds; it is also the source of legitimate power. It gives concrete expression to the vision of "putting the people first" and "benevolent governance."
引例
齐宣王曾问：“德行达到什么程度，才可以统一天下？”孟子答曰：“能使百姓安居乐业，就能统一天下了，谁也阻挡不了。”（语出《孟子·梁惠王上》）
王璟瑄 李晗 来源：中国青年报
2026年08月05日 01版
