Directions After reading the passage please write an English essay on Confucius’s Thoughts on Xiao Ren and Li by combining the information in your book You should write at least 350 words but no more

Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, believed that the most fundamental relationship is between father and son. This relationship is inevitable and must be understood and cultivated into filial piety (xiao). In The Analects, filial piety is the root of human feelings and the starting point of all relationships. Confucius believed that we must be aware of this innate feeling so we can nourish and cultivate it, and extend it to other social relationships, such as ruler-minister, husband-wife, and friendship. In this way, Confucius found a theory of cultivating one’s behavior toward family and society, which aims to establish harmonious relationships.

Ren is the central theme of Confucian thought. It means love, humanity, benevolence, goodness, human-heartedness, etc. The word “ren” refers to the parental feelings between a mother and her baby. The feelings are full of kindness and love. So the feelings toward parents are the basic and fundamental to human beings. Filial piety is proper behavior towards parents and elder brothers. Without love, whatever children do for their parents may not be taken as filial piety. Important as it is, filial piety is just a part of ren. It is not until universal love is created that ren is realized completely. Universal love results in harmonious relationships between individuals. Morality is infused into social relationships and builds up social harmony. The harmony underpins social and political order.

Li is the standard and norm for the judgment of one’s mental and physical actions. The content of li is beneficial to others. The function of li is to maintain harmony. Finally, li represents the Mean or zhongyong which refers to proper actions. Confucius placed emphasis on li with the aim of preserving social order, stability, and harmony. In traditional Chinese culture, li is a general term for social norms which regulate individual’s relationships with other people and with everything else in nature. Li determines the standard of conduct and social status of individuals like a measuring square, thus achieving harmony among human beings and between human beings and nature.

The process of developing ren is mainly carried out through li. Ren is the essence, and li is the form. Ren and li, constantly expounded by Confucius along with yi (righteousness) and zhi (wisdom), form the kernel of Confucianism. In later days, ren, yi, li, zhi, with the addition of xin (trustworthiness and reliability), became the Five Constant Virtues of Confucianism. They have been considered the moral principles of Confucianism and have exerted a great influence on Chinese life and culture.

In modern society, practicing “ren” is significant because it promotes love, kindness, and morality. For example, universal love can help people understand and accept others regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. It can also help people build harmonious relationships with others and work towards creating a peaceful and tolerant society. Additionally, practicing filial piety can help people understand the importance of family and respect for elders. This can lead to stronger family relationships and a greater sense of community. Finally, practicing li can help people understand the importance of proper behavior and social norms. This can lead to a more orderly and harmonious society.

In conclusion, Confucius’s thoughts on xiao, ren, and li emphasize the importance of cultivating harmonious relationships with family and society. These principles promote love, kindness, morality, and proper behavior. They have had a significant impact on Chinese life and culture and continue to be relevant in modern society