順天

Attested in Pre-Qin texts.

順天

1. (literary) to accord with the ways 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.

     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, yì zhòng, lì dì, yòu bīng, shì wèi wǔlǜ.

     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.

     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.

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

順天

1. (～府) (historical) Shuntian (a historical prefecture of Zhili, China, administering the capital Beijing and its surrounding region)