Five Virtues
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The Five Constant Virtues
The Chinese have brought the world possibly the most amazing of histories and wealth of culture to be found in the entire history of civilization. The moral code that was developed then to grow and propagate societal progress is still in effect and of massive social significance in today’s Chinese social structure. These precepts are what are known as the Traditional Virtues. They are widely credited in Chinese culture as intrinsic to the growth and progress of human civilization.
The Five Constant Virtues are considered the most important and vital of all of the traditional Chinese virtues. They are fidelity (xin), wisdom (zhi), propriety (li), righteousness (yi) and benevolence (ren). While the Five Constant Vitrues are firmly rooted in Confucianism, they are part of the Chinese culture throughout the country.
In order to cultivate morality, the ancient Chinese utilized these precepts to guide them and help them to live their lives, a road map, if you will, to a spiritually rich life. The Five Constant Virtues have flowed though every area of the Chinese culture to the degree that they still flow through contemporary life today.
Of the Five Constant Virtues, benevolence is the first and foremost of them. It is exhibited by the bearer showing compassion for their fellows and living from a compassionate place. Living an envy-free life and the avoidance of doing harm to others is part of the precept of Benevolence (ren). The virtue of benevolence requires that people be friend, not contentious and not participate in evil activities.
It is an interesting comparison to Western mores that benevolence advises that people utilize what appears to be the Confucian version of the West’s golden rule. It reads like this: What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognizes as desireable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to
Class Title
Instructor’s Name
Due Date
The Five Constant Virtues
The Chinese have brought the world possibly the most amazing of histories and wealth of culture to be found in the entire history of civilization. The moral code that was developed then to grow and propagate societal progress is still in effect and of massive social significance in today’s Chinese social structure. These precepts are what are known as the Traditional Virtues. They are widely credited in Chinese culture as intrinsic to the growth and progress of human civilization.
The Five Constant Virtues are considered the most important and vital of all of the traditional Chinese virtues. They are fidelity (xin), wisdom (zhi), propriety (li), righteousness (yi) and benevolence (ren). While the Five Constant Vitrues are firmly rooted in Confucianism, they are part of the Chinese culture throughout the country.
In order to cultivate morality, the ancient Chinese utilized these precepts to guide them and help them to live their lives, a road map, if you will, to a spiritually rich life. The Five Constant Virtues have flowed though every area of the Chinese culture to the degree that they still flow through contemporary life today.
Of the Five Constant Virtues, benevolence is the first and foremost of them. It is exhibited by the bearer showing compassion for their fellows and living from a compassionate place. Living an envy-free life and the avoidance of doing harm to others is part of the precept of Benevolence (ren). The virtue of benevolence requires that people be friend, not contentious and not participate in evil activities.
It is an interesting comparison to Western mores that benevolence advises that people utilize what appears to be the Confucian version of the West’s golden rule. It reads like this: What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognizes as desireable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to