The term “turning a crude poem or essay into a literary gem” means creatively expressing novel and exquisite meaning through the use of simple language or by transforming old phrases from past masters. The expression also can be used to describe the way that an accomplished man of letters edits writings. By minor adjustment, he can bring out the …
This term means to feel sad for others’ sadness and feel painful for others’ suffering. It is a combination of the Buddhist concept of “mercy” and Confucian concept of “compassion.” “Mercy” in Buddhism implies both kind-heartedness that brings peace and happiness to all and sympathy that relieves others from their misery. “Compassion” mean…
This concept was proposed by Wang Gen (1483-1541), a student of Wang Yangming (1472-1529) and founder of the Taizhou School of the Mind, and is derived from Wang Yangming’s idea of “joy being original of man’s heart.” For Wang Gen, all humans are born joyful. The reason why many are not happy is that their true and innate joy is blinded by their…