noun
rise and fall of nations; peace and war, prosperity and decline
A yojijukugo used in historical or political contexts to describe the cyclical nature of a nation's fortunes, encompassing both peaceful and turbulent times.
歴史を学ぶと、治乱興亡の繰り返しであることがわかる。
Studying history reveals the repeated cycle of rise and fall of nations.
A yojijukugo composed of four kanji: 治 (peace/order), 乱 (war/disorder), 興 (rise/prosperity), and 亡 (fall/ruin). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of pairing opposites to express a comprehensive concept.