整理/王璟瑄 制图/李晗
保民而王
能让百姓安居乐业，便能实现天下一统。“王”这个字，指的是一国之君或一地之主。在中国古典语境里，“王”并非泛指那些手握最高权力的人，而是特指那些通晓天地人运行规律、深受天下人拥戴的统治者。“保民”，意为爱护并养育民众，让他们拥有生存的资源，接受教化，得以安定地从事生产与生活。这是国家政权的基本职责，也是获取民心的前提，更是权力合法性的根基所在。这一理念具体落实了“民本”与“仁政”的思想内核。
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
齐宣王问：“德行达到什么程度才可以统一天下？”孟子答：“能使百姓安居乐业，就能统一天下了，谁也阻挡不了。”（《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
