Human affairs definition
Human affairs. (sa) means the right and wrong, bene- fit and harm, among human beings. “Universal princi- ples” (ri) means the great and small, being and nonbeing, of heavenly creation. “Great” means the original essence of all things in the universe. “Small” means that the myri- ad phenomena are distinguished by their shapes and forms. “Being and nonbeing” means the cycle of na- ture’s four seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter, as well as wind, clouds, rains, dew, frost, and snow; the birth, aging, sickness, and death of all things; and the transformations of creation and destruction, flourishing and decay. “Inquiry” (yŏn’gu) means studying and mas- tering human affairs and universal principles.