The word “folk” or “among the people” generally refers to what is non-official — life as lived and passed on among ordinary people.

In books we often see this word appear, as in “many things circulate among the people.” The greatest insight “the folk” gives us is this: it is the womb of civilization. In the development of society, without the people, nothing else can truly exist. Sometimes governments collapse, yet the people remain. Parties come and go, but human beings endure. People come first — everything else follows. This is a basic truth.

Zhen(Truth) is the essential character of the folk. Compared with the grand, polished narratives of the official world, “the folk” presents life in its original form. The joys and sorrows of ordinary people, their dependence on the land, their reverence for food — all of these are the most primal forms of “truth.” Folk wisdom is often distilled from lived experience. Spring plowing and autumn harvests, traditional healing, fortune-telling and astronomy — these bodies of knowledge arise from a sincere search for truth within the laws of nature.

Shan(Goodness) is the underlying color of the folk. In everyday society, order is often sustained not by law, but by a simple moral sense — “good is rewarded with good,” and “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.” This goodness is mutual, warm, and humane. In traditional contexts, great importance is placed on virtue. When one family suffers, others lend support from all directions; when injustice is seen, people step forward to help. This grassroots goodness forms the most basic safety net of society.

Ren(Endurance) is the inner strength of the folk. Among ordinary people, “endurance” shows itself as an astonishing resilience. Through war, famine, and upheaval, the people have often endured silently, like wild grass that survives hardship and waits patiently to grow again. “Endurance” also expresses generosity and tolerance. In neighborhood conflicts or family relationships, the saying “take one step back and the sea becomes wide” reflects a higher wisdom in resolving tension — it is the expression of a great, patient heart.

“Among the people” is like a piece of land: within it there is kindness and wisdom, but also, at times, prejudice and misunderstanding. In certain periods, harmful things seep into the folk world as well, trying to occupy people’s minds — sometimes successfully. At such moments, truth is needed to gently untie the knots and bring healing.