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One who rules through the power of Virtue might be compared to the Pole Star, which simply remains in its place while receiving the homage of the myriad lesser stars. (Analects 2:1)

Was not Shun one who ruled by means of wuwei? What did he do? He made himself reverent and took his position facing South, that is all. (Analects 15:5)

The below time-lapse photograph* illustrates the apparent motion of the other stars around the Pole Star (also known in the West as the North Star or Polaris). As Analects 2:1 shows, ancient Chinese were aware of this phenomenon, and associated it with governing by Virtue as opposed to brute force. This association probably accounts for the fact that (from the Neolithic period to the present) the main gates of royal palaces and ritual buildings in China typically face South -- just like the Pole Star!

Image via Darron Birgenheier (CC BY-SA 2.0), URL=https://www.flickr.com/photos/darronb/6224786459

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