세상을 이끄는 힘

子曰, 道千乘之國, 敬事而信, 節用而愛人, 使民而時.

 자왈, 도천승지국호대, 경사이신하며, 절용이애인하며, 사민이시니라.

 

공자는 다음과 같이 말씀하셨습니다. “천승의 거대한 나라를 이끌어갈 때, 국사는 신중하게 처리하고, 국민의 신뢰를 받으며, 씀씀이를 절약하고, 사람들을 진심으로 아끼며 사랑하며, 백성을 동원할 때는 한가한 시간을 활용해야 한다.” (통치자의 마음 자세)

여기서 '절용 애인'이란 '검소하게 절약하며 사람을 아낀다'는 뜻입니다. 흔히 '물 쓰듯 한다'는 말을 들어보셨을 겁니다. 그러나 요즘은 물조차도 사서 먹는 시대이니, 그 표현이 무색해졌습니다.

예를 들어, 대낮에도 전깃불을 켜놓는 경우를 흔히 볼 수 있습니다. 아껴 쓴다는 개념이 사라진 지 오래이며, 소중한 세금마저 귀하게 쓰지 못하는 현실입니다. 피땀 흘려 번 돈으로 낸 세금이지만, ‘절약’이라는 가치는 간과된 채입니다. 이를 감안할 때, 씀씀이를 줄이는 것은 반드시 주목해야 할 중요한 정책 방향이자 핵심입니다.

또한, 사람은 모여 세상을 이루는 존재입니다. 하지만 현재 우리 사회는 인구 감소와 저출산 문제로 중대한 도전에 직면해 있습니다. 소위 '선진국'이라 불리는 나라들조차 인구 감소를 우려하며 출산율을 높이기 위한 다양한 정책을 마련하고 있습니다. 우리나라는 이 문제의 심각성을 인식하고 여러 노력을 기울이고 있지만, 아직 뚜렷한 성과를 이루지는 못하고 있는 실정입니다.

이런 상황 속에서 '절용 애인'의 가치를 되새기는 것은 자연스러운 일일 것입니다.

 

https://youtu.be/3Pik8byoUHY

 

Confucius once said, "When leading a great nation of a thousand chariots, one must handle state affairs prudently, earn the trust of the people, practice frugality, genuinely cherish and love people, and mobilize citizens during their free time." (The mindset of a ruler)

 

The phrase "절용 애인" means "to practice frugality and cherish people." You may have heard the saying, "spend as freely as water." However, in today's world, even water is bought and consumed, making such expressions outdated.

For instance, it is common to see lights kept on even during broad daylight. The concept of saving has long faded, and even precious taxes are spent without appreciation for their value. Despite taxes being paid with hard-earned money, the importance of "thrift" is often overlooked. Considering this, reducing expenditures must become a crucial and key policy direction.

 

Moreover, people come together to form the world. However, our society is currently facing significant challenges, such as population decline and the issue of low birth rates. Even countries referred to as "advanced nations" are concerned about population decrease and are implementing various policies to raise birth rates. In our country, while the seriousness of these issues has been recognized, and numerous efforts have been made, no significant achievements have been seen so far.

 

In such circumstances, it is only natural to revisit the values of "절용 애인."

 

孔子は次のように述べています。 「千台の車が行き交うような大国を治める際には、国の事務を慎重に処理し、国民の信頼を得て、倹約を心掛け、人々を心から大切に愛し、国民を動員する際には彼らの余暇を利用すべきである。」（統治者の心構え）

「節用愛人」とは、「倹約して無駄を省き、人を大切にする」という意味です。 よく「水のように使う」という表現を耳にするかもしれません。しかし、今や水さえも購入して飲む時代となり、その表現も時代遅れになりつつあります。

例えば、昼間なのに電灯が点けっぱなしになっている光景をよく目にします。節約するという概念はすでに消え去り、貴重な税金でさえその価値を理解せずに使われているのが現状です。懸命な努力で稼いだお金で支払われる税金にもかかわらず、「倹約」の重要性は軽視されています。この状況を踏まえると、支出を抑えることは重要な政策の方向性であり、核心であるべきです。

さらに、人々は集まり世界を形作ります。しかし、現在の社会は人口減少や少子化問題という重大な挑戦に直面しています。いわゆる「先進国」と呼ばれる国々でさえ、人口減少を憂慮し、出生率を上げるためのさまざまな政策を策定しています。わが国においては、これらの問題の深刻さが認識され、多くの努力が払われているものの、まだ目立った成果は得られていません。

こうした状況の中で、「節用愛人」という価値を再び思い起こすことは自然なことです。

 

 

Wisdom of the Ancients: Governing with Compassion and Frugality

Confucius said, "To govern a great nation of a thousand chariots requires reverent attention to business, good faith, economy in expenditure, love for the people, and proper timing in the use of human resources."

The Art of Mindful Governance

Trust of the People

Earned through sincere service

Economic Prudence

Careful management of resources

Genuine Care

Authentic concern for citizens

Thoughtful Timing

Respecting people's time and seasons

The ancient wisdom of '절용애인' (jeolyong-aein) or "economy in expenditure and love for people" forms the foundation of enlightened governance. These principles remain relevant today, reminding leaders that true authority comes from serving with sincerity rather than wielding power.

The Lost Art of Conservation

Traditional Mindset

Previous generations valued conservation, seeing resources as precious and limited. Water was especially revered for its life-giving properties.

Modern Consumption

Today we purchase bottled water and leave lights burning during daylight. The concept of conservation has faded from our collective consciousness.

Resource Crisis

Our careless attitude extends to tax money and public resources, with government agencies often failing to model the frugality they preach.

Government Spending: A Crisis of Priorities

Taxation Without Respect

Citizens work hard to pay taxes, yet see their contributions spent carelessly by those in authority. This undermines the sacred trust between government and the governed.

The Missing Ethic

Government agencies often fail to demonstrate the frugality they demand from citizens. This hypocrisy erodes public confidence and creates cynicism.

A New Direction

Reduction in expenditure must become a cornerstone policy direction, not merely a slogan. Prudent fiscal management reflects respect for citizens' labor.

The Demographic Challenge

Humanity forms the foundation of society. The declining birth rate represents a critical challenge to national stability. Even developed nations struggle with this issue, implementing various policies to encourage population growth. Despite significant efforts, Korea faces a particularly severe demographic crisis.

Returning to Ancient Wisdom

Frugality (절용)

Careful stewardship of resources

Compassion (애인)

Genuine care for human welfare

Sustainability

Creating balanced systems

Prosperity

Shared well-being for all

In our modern context, revisiting Confucius's principle of "economy in expenditure, and love for people" isn't merely nostalgic—it's essential. This wisdom transcends cultures and eras, offering a blueprint for addressing our most pressing social and demographic challenges with compassion and foresight.

 

https://wisdom-of-the-ancients-1j8douo.gamma.site/

Wisdom of the Ancients: Governing with Compassion and Frugality