Analects 16.1 · Ji Shi
“Once people have come, help them settle in peace.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
既來之 則安之 (jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī) means “Once people have come, help them settle in peace.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 1.
既來之 則安之
- Pinyin
- jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī
- Translation
- Once people have come, help them settle in peace.
- Source
- Analects, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 1
What does this passage mean?
This passage from the Ji Shi chapter originally appears in a context where Confucius teaches his disciples Ran You and Zilu about government. 既來之 則安之 means that once people have come, they should be made secure and at ease. It originally had the political meaning that when people from distant places arrived, rulers should settle and care for them. Later the phrase came to be used widely as an independent idiom and expanded to mean, 'Accept a situation that has already arisen and respond to it calmly.'
How can we apply it today?
Unexpected circumstances, unwanted changes, and sudden transitions arise countless times in a life that does not go according to plan. We are assigned to a department we did not want, encounter an unforeseen difficulty, or suddenly receive a new role. Rather than complaining about and resisting what has already happened, wisdom accepts the situation given and does one's best within it. This is adaptation rather than surrender, and active acceptance rather than passive resignation.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What recent situation was difficult for me to accept?
- ·Did I resist it or adapt to it?
- ·Can I meet what has already happened with a peaceful mind?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 既 | jì | already | 10 | 旡 (choke) |
| 來 | lái | come | 8 | 人 (person) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 則 | zé | then; immediately | 9 | 刀 (knife) |
| 安 | ān | peaceful | 6 | 宀 (roof) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Once people have come, help them settle in…” mean?
既來之 則安之 (jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī) means “Once people have come, help them settle in peace.” It comes from the Analects, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 1.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 16.1: Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 1.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Unexpected circumstances, unwanted changes, and sudden transitions arise countless times in a life that does not go according to plan.