이상
[isang]
理想
Etymology
理 (이) [i] – reason, logic想 (상) [sang] – idea, thought
The “Ideal” (理想) in Chinese characters, is comprised of a left side 王 (king) and a right side 里 (village); in other words, king’s village. One side symbolizes the whole, and the other side represents the center. When the whole focuses on one center, then that is ideal. A single man will never achieve that; only with the entirety surrounding the original center will the ideal exist.
The word “ideal,” (理想) consists of the character 王 (king) on the left side and 里 (village) on the right. In other words, a royal village. One side symbolizes the whole and the other side the center. When the whole is focused on one center, that is the ideal. One person will never achieve this. Only with a wholeness that surrounds the original center will the ideal exist.
The elements of the character 想 again are 木 (tree) on the left side and 目 (eye) on the right side-the eye of the tree. So, the eye of the tree also symbolizes the whole. When these two come together, they become a single concept, the word “soul.” It is not hard to understand, then, that when people began to use these characters, they unconsciously included all the elements of happiness in the concept of the ideal.
No matter how great the Creator is, He cannot embody His love and ideal alone. That is why He created the universe to embody love and ideals. So why did God create humans? To experience happiness and joy. He cannot experience them by being alone.
The ideal of creation is not the perfection of wealth or power, but the perfection of love.
The ideal person does not live for himself. One who has achieved the ideal lives for others-for a partner. This is a fundamental principle of the universe.
The ideal world on earth expands from the perfect individuals, families, society, country, and the world of true love.