Here's a story of Bian Que meeting Duke Huan of Cai. Everyone knows that Bian (407-310 B.C.) was a highly skilled doctor. In traditional Chinese medicine, doctors use observation, listening, questioning and pulse analysis to diagnose diseases.
2023-05-25
One day, Confucius finished his class and left. The students asked Zengzi, “What did the master talk about today?” Zengzi said, “He taught us the principles of loyalty, devotion, reciprocity, empathy and forgiveness.”
2023-05-18
Today let’s hear a story of Zou Ji who exhorted King of Qi to take advice. Zou was a counselor in the State of Qi (1046-221 B.C.). He was very tall and attractive but he had a concern that King Wei of Qi always ignored the loyal ministers’ advice and did not listen to beneficial words.
2023-05-11
Courtesy stems from a respectful heart and plays a significant role in Chinese people’s lives. According to Confucianism, everyone, from emperors to commoners, should cultivate themselves. Courtesy is respect, which is key to moral cultivation.
2023-05-04
Integrity means being upstanding, self-restrained, pure and squeaky-clean. Being a spotless person and doing things honestly is called integrity. Only with integrity can one be fair-minded, and only then can things be done legally and in accordance with rules.
2023-04-27
What is morality? Mencius said that benevolence shows goodwill from the human heart and righteousness relates to the paths humans take. Morality refers to the right path that everyone should take. In Chinese culture, the quality of being moral and upright is particularly respected. If there is a conflict between one's life and morality, an honorable person can only sacrifice his or her life to adhere to morality.
2023-04-20
What is comparison and verification? In fact, it is very simple; it means being in line with the facts and seeking truth from facts.
2023-04-13
Mencius said that there are three things in life that bring the greatest happiness. The first is that our parents and siblings are fine; the second is having a pure and open heart so as not to feel ashamed before Heaven and people; the third is to have the opportunity to teach talented people.
2023-04-06
Mencius' teachings asked people to treat others with great integrity and righteousness. But what is "great?" Mencius said: "A man lives in the spacious dwelling, occupies the proper position, and follows the ways of the empire. When he achieves his ambitions, he shares them with the people; when he fails to do so, he practices the way alone."
2023-03-30
Mencius once discussed the meaning of beauty with a disciple. His conclusion was that one who fully possesses goodness is beautiful. The Confucian classic 'Mencius" recorded a conversation between Haosheng Buhai and Mencius. The disciple asked, "What sort of a man is Yuezhengzi?" "A good man," said Mencius. "A true man," he added.
2023-03-23
Being one with the way is the ultimate prospect of a human being. The Confucian classic "The Analects" notes down visions of moral idealists. For the sake of moral ideals, sacrifices can be made when necessary to realize the benevolence.
2023-03-16
"The Analects" records Confucius as saying, "Set your aim for the way, hold on your virtue, rely on your benevolence and explore widely in your cultivation of the arts." The missions of Confucian teachings are to explore the relationship between heaven and humans, and understand the changes of the past and present.
2023-03-09
The Confucian classic "Zhongyong" ("The Doctrine of the Mean") offers two approaches to achieve self-cultivation — honoring one's virtuous nature and maintaining constant inquiry and study. "Honoring one's virtuous nature" asks a person to fully know his nature.
2023-03-02
Only when a person gains self-awareness can he perceive that achieving humaneness is determined by the person himself.
2023-02-23
Ethics is the basic essence of Chinese philosophy. The close connection between ethics and aesthetics (goodness and beauty) is a prominent feature of Chinese philosophy.
2023-02-16
In Chinese culture, building a human community with a shared future and pursuing universal knowledge on benevolence and proper destiny for human beings are particularly considered. The inner purpose for spreading Chinese culture is to inherit Confucianism and to create a peaceful world for our generation and the next.
2023-02-09
Mencius believed that owning a heart of benevolence, righteousness, protocol and wisdom is part of a person's innate knowledge and good ability and is worthy to be exalted.
2023-02-02
Humans are the essence of the universe. However, the human mind will be obscured by unkind desires when the mind attaches itself to objects.
2023-01-19
Xinxue, or the School of the Mind, is the treasure of Chinese philosophy. When we talk about the origin and development of Xinxue, we will cover Confucius’ theory on benevolence, Mencius’ idea on innate knowledge, Zhuangzi’s thought on Xinxue and Lu Jiuyuan's philosophy arguing “the mind is principle.” The ideas passed on to Wang Yangming, a Neo-Confucian philosopher from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), whose thought on Xinxue became agglomerate.
2023-01-12
We continue on Mencius' theory of "four minds." His thoughts parallel Confucius', which emphasize benevolence, reflecting the quote "A benevolent man loves others." "Lunyu" ("Analects of Confucius") recorded Confucius' teachings on filial piety.
2022-12-29
