<p>I originally had this as a comment but it seems like it has become an answer.</p>

<hr>

<p>Confucianism likes to talk about the separation of man (人) and beast (禽), so that would be the crux of the first sentence, i.e.: separating the human and animal worlds. </p>

<p>立天地心 should be talking about setting a standard or a principle for heaven and earth, there are many translations that put similar ideas as: ordaining a conscience for Heaven and Earth.</p>

<hr>

<p>In relation to your edit:</p>

<p>There are a couple of well-known translations for 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth<br>
    To secure life and fortune for the people<br>
    To continue lost teachings for past sages<br>
    To establish peace for all future generations</p>
</blockquote>

<p>another would be:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth<br>
    To secure life and fortune for the populace<br>
    To carry on lost teachings of ancient sages<br>
    To build peace for posterity</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T08:41:26.950Z
Thanks. Could we say then "raise your consciousness for Heaven and Earth" ? It seems proper since there's also a distinction between Men and beasts, right ? Would you mind elaborating about 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 too ?
Mat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T08:42:47.490Z
Thanks for the translations of 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 :)
Mat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T08:46:04.810Z
@Mat 立心 is defined as 树立准则 in《汉语大词典》: 树立+准则 is a simple combo of set-up & standard, does that equate to `raise your consciousness`, probably not?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T09:06:38.930Z
So what do you mean by "ordain conscience" ? I don't get the use of "ordain"... I don't understand this "To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth"
Mat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T12:41:56.493Z
This isn’t my translation, and it is, albeit, quite archaic but you can understand *ordain* as establish or enact.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T07:26:25.683Z
Beautiful translate!
Yang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T08:36:55.867Z
2018-06-15T08:43:06.473Z
2018-06-15T08:43:06.473Z
Mou某
<p>辨人禽界，立天地心</p>

<p>Simple translation:</p>

<p>天地 = natural world, people and society = 天下</p>

<p>辨人禽界，= 辨别人和禽兽的界限，<br>
distinguish the boundaries between people and animals<br>
立天地心 = become a good person</p>

<p>Have a look <a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/584654466517858445.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here:</a></p>

<p>"其实，“为天地立心”是指为社会建立一套以“仁”、“孝”等道德伦理为核心的精神价值系统。 “立心”也就是“立天理”之心，因为天理“能使天下悦且通”，从而使“天下”（社会）必然会普遍接受仁孝之理等道德价值。“为天地立心”的涵义其重点不在认识论，而在价值论。"</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T09:45:13.003Z
2018-06-15T09:45:13.003Z
Pedroski
<p>I am working on the translation of a Chinese text and I'm stuck with this expression: "辨人禽界，立天地心". I think it means something like "recognize the human (bird?) world, and establishing/building heaven and earth".</p>

<p>I often see 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 as well. Thanks for telling me what this may mean too. I heard it was used by 张载 and wish to grasp its true meaning.</p>

<p>If someone has an idea of its precise meaning, please let me know. I wish I could make sure of it for me to deeply understand what this article is about and make the whole translation accurate.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-15T17:00:52.023Z
the verse is, like federation flag, might be controversial. so, may i ask, "辨人禽界立天地心" is in what context? it's meaning would be ranged from "as is", "han-chinese-supremacy", to "non-han-chinese-hostile".
水巷孑蠻
<translation>
Translation of "辨人禽界，立天地心"
# Translation of "辨人禽界，立天地心"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-15)

I am working on the translation of a Chinese text and I'm stuck with this expression: "辨人禽界，立天地心". I think it means something like "recognize the human (bird?) world, and establishing/building heaven and earth".

I often see 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 as well. Thanks for telling me what this may mean too. I heard it was used by 张载 and wish to grasp its true meaning.

If someone has an idea of its precise meaning, please let me know. I wish I could make sure of it for me to deeply understand what this article is about and make the whole translation accurate.

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: the verse is, like federation flag, might be controversial. so, may i ask, "辨人禽界立天地心" is in what context? it's meaning would be ranged from "as is", "han-chinese-supremacy", to "non-han-chinese-hostile".  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-15. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I originally had this as a comment but it seems like it has become an answer.

---

Confucianism likes to talk about the separation of man (人) and beast (禽), so that would be the crux of the first sentence, i.e.: separating the human and animal worlds.

立天地心 should be talking about setting a standard or a principle for heaven and earth, there are many translations that put similar ideas as: ordaining a conscience for Heaven and Earth.

---

In relation to your edit:

There are a couple of well-known translations for 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平

> To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth  
> To secure life and fortune for the people  
> To continue lost teachings for past sages  
> To establish peace for all future generations

another would be:

> To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth  
> To secure life and fortune for the populace  
> To carry on lost teachings of ancient sages  
> To build peace for posterity

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. Could we say then "raise your consciousness for Heaven and Earth" ? It seems proper since there's also a distinction between Men and beasts, right ? Would you mind elaborating about 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 too ?  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the translations of 为天地立心，为生民立命， 为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平 :)  
> **username_2**: @username_0 立心 is defined as 树立准则 in《汉语大词典》: 树立+准则 is a simple combo of set-up & standard, does that equate to `raise your consciousness`, probably not?  
> **username_0**: So what do you mean by "ordain conscience" ? I don't get the use of "ordain"... I don't understand this "To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth"  
> **username_2**: This isn’t my translation, and it is, albeit, quite archaic but you can understand *ordain* as establish or enact.  
> **username_3**: Beautiful translate!  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-15. Score: 1

辨人禽界，立天地心

Simple translation:

天地 = natural world, people and society = 天下

辨人禽界，= 辨别人和禽兽的界限，  
distinguish the boundaries between people and animals  
立天地心 = become a good person

Have a look [here:](https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/584654466517858445.html)

"其实，“为天地立心”是指为社会建立一套以“仁”、“孝”等道德伦理为核心的精神价值系统。 “立心”也就是“立天理”之心，因为天理“能使天下悦且通”，从而使“天下”（社会）必然会普遍接受仁孝之理等道德价值。“为天地立心”的涵义其重点不在认识论，而在价值论。"


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