天经地义

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: tiān jīng dì yì
• English Translation: The natural laws of heaven and earth; something that is right and proper; an absolute truth or principle
• Idiom Composition: 「天」（Heaven, sky）＋「经」（Principle, classic, regular path）＋「地」（Earth, ground）＋「义」（Righteousness, justice, principle）
• Meaning: The unchanging laws of heaven and earth; an absolute principle. By extension, it refers to something that is naturally right, unquestionable, and completely correct.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「天经地义」 contains the following nuances:

• Universality and Absoluteness: Represents principles or truths that are universal and absolute, like the heavens and earth, which everyone should acknowledge.
• Legitimacy and Inevitability: Indicates something is highly legitimate and has an inevitable necessity to be as it is.
• Immutability and Permanence: Refers to truths or laws that remain unchanged and permanent despite changes in times or circumstances.
• Moral and Ethical Norms: Often used to refer to moral or ethical standards and social rules.

3. Usage

「天经地义」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Obligations and Responsibilities That Are Naturally Expected: Used to emphasize duties and responsibilities that should naturally be fulfilled in a certain position or role.
  • Example:「教育儿童是父母天经地义的责任。」
    （Educating children is the natural and proper responsibility of parents.）
• Universal Truths and Principles: Used when stating universal truths or principles that everyone should accept.
  • Example:「追求真理和正义是天经地义的。」
    （Pursuing truth and justice is absolutely right and proper.）
• Strong Assertions or Affirmations: Used to strongly assert that something is absolutely correct.
  • Example:「维护国家主权和领土完整是天经地义的。」
    （Safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is an absolute principle.）

Additional Examples:

1. 保护环境是每个公民天经地义的义务。
   （Protecting the environment is the natural and proper duty of every citizen.）
2. 尊重老人是中华民族天经地义的传统美德。
   （Respecting the elderly is a fundamental and proper traditional virtue of the Chinese nation.）
3. 孝敬父母是天经地义的事情，我们每个人都应该做到。
   （Filial piety towards parents is a matter of course, and everyone should practice it.）
4. 人们认为，努力工作以获得回报是天经地义的。
   （People believe that working hard to earn rewards is only natural and right.）
5. 在过去，皇帝拥有至高无上的权力被认为是天经地义的。
   （In the past, it was considered an unquestionable truth that the emperor held supreme power.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Influence of Confucian Thought: '天经地义' is deeply rooted in traditional Confucian philosophy. In Confucianism, heaven and earth are the origins of all things, and unchanging laws (the Way of Heaven and the Way of Earth) are believed to exist.
• Symbolism of 'Heaven' and 'Earth': In Chinese culture, 'Heaven' and 'Earth' symbolize complementary concepts such as yang and yin, male and female, spirit and matter. '天经地义' expresses a universal order established by the harmony of these forces.
• Modern Usage: In contemporary Chinese, '天经地义' is often used to emphasize traditional values and moral principles, but it can also appear in contexts criticizing outdated or rigid thinking.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán): Something that is naturally justified or expected.
  • 不容置疑 (bù róng zhì yí): Beyond doubt; unquestionable.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大逆不道 (dà nì bú dào): To greatly violate moral principles; to act against the proper way.

6. Summary

'天经地义' is an idiom deeply rooted in traditional Chinese worldview, especially Confucian thought. It goes beyond meaning 'something natural or obvious' to express universal and absolute truths based on the laws of heaven and earth, as well as moral and ethical principles that humans should uphold. Even in modern society, this idiom is used as a powerful expression to assert universal values and fundamental human rights and duties.