It is not difficult to know the moral principles guiding daily life; what is difficult is to practice them. This was a way with which the ancient Chinese dealt with the relationship between knowledge and action. This approach stood in contrast with the belief that action is easy whereas knowing is hard. This concept is mentioned in both Zuo’s Comme…

The term refers to the fundamental state of the existence of things. Bian (变) and hua (化) may be used as one word or separately. Specifically, bian means manifest change, while hua indicates subtle and gradual change. Ancient Chinese thinkers generally held that all things under heaven and on earth, including humans and society, are all in a state…

This term refers to love for one’s kin and particularly for one’s parents. It is a natural affection, and it also refers to the way in which such feeling is expressed. Confucianism holds that such a love should also be extended to others so that it will foster public virtue. Excessive affection for one’s kin, however, can lead to favoritism in on…

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