文质彬彬·每日好词语｜和实生物

整理/秦珍子 制图/汪琪（实习生）

不同的事物相互调和生成新的事物。由西周末年的周太史史伯提出，指不同的事物在和谐共处中可以相互补充、相互辅助，从而生成新的事物。体现在政治治理中，即要求为政者保全并发挥不同人、物的特质，促进新事物的生成、增益与社会整体的发展。

Harmony Begets New Things

The notion that harmony begets new things was advanced by Grand Astrologer Shibo in the late Zhou Dynasty. He believed different things, when coexisting in harmony, would complement each other and beget new things. When applied to political governance, this concept requires those in power to preserve the particular features of different people and things and allow them to flourish. This nurtures the growth of new things and promotes the development of society.

引例

夫和实生物，同则不继。（《国语·郑语》）（不同的事物相互调和而生成新的事物，只有相同的事物则难以有延续。）

Uniformity does not lead to continuation; it is harmony that begets new things. (Discourses on Governance of the States)