What is the meaning of destiny that the ancients often said?

1, destiny, it's providence. This is a more orthodox statement, in line with the ancient world outlook. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, people were still in ignorance, and all natural phenomena were regarded as providence. Even the king of Shang dynasty must obey the heaven. The history book says, "My late king had a suit, but he kept his fate." .

2. Fate is the will of nature. In the period of "the ritual collapses and the music breaks down", advanced intellectuals generally doubt the role of "destiny". In Ask the Heaven, Qu Yuan questioned the function of "God" and said, "What is the punishment of fate?" At the end of the Warring States period, the materialistic viewpoint of "natural law, natural law" was extended in Xunzi era. It is believed that natural phenomena are not god's will, but have their own irresistible natural laws, and people can't go against them.

3. Destiny is an order from heaven. This is a concept that ancient rulers "invented" to demonstrate the "legitimacy" of rule. The son of heaven told the people through his own pen that imperial power is a right endowed by heaven, and the people should not go against God's will, but should follow God's will and safeguard the emperor's supreme power. This concept of being ordered by heaven is consistent with the western concept of divine right of monarchy. They are all cultural transformations to consolidate the rule.

4. Destiny is the innate talent of human beings. In the Doctrine of the Mean, it is said that "the nature of destiny, the nature of frankness, Taoism and religious practice." Zheng Xuan, a Confucian scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty, commented: "Destiny is what is born in heaven, which is also called fate." He interpreted "fate" as "fate". According to today's understanding, the word "talent" is more in line with this explanation, and it is born with some characteristics of heaven. Or it can be said that "nature has given" some people "talent". In short, we can't force it.

Fate is the natural life span of human beings. This usage is common in history books. "Life is at stake" means "time is running out" and "not dying of destiny" means "dying of an unnatural death". No matter theism or atheism, their descriptions of "irresistible" expressed by "fate" are always consistent, but the difference is that people can't resist divine power. Or an irresistible law of nature? Theism stresses the objectivity of natural laws, which is manifested as "what divine power does"