Rodney Ohebsion

Confucianism - Key Terms

chun tzu / junzi superior person
hsiao jen / xiaoren small person, inferior person<
yi right, rightness, righteous, righteousness
tao / dao the Way, Way, the right way of life, path, doctrine
te / de virtue power, character power, inner power, virtue, excellence, integrity
jen / ren complete manliness/womanliness, ideal virtue, complete virtue, goodness
li pure discretion, pure order, proper actions, conduct according to what is right to the situation, the idea of what is proper and fit in all relations of things, pure activity
hsueh / xue learn, learning, self-cultivation, self-purification, self-development
hsien / xian worthiness, worthy, a worthy person, virtue & talent, character & ability
wen training, cultural refinement, culture that advances a person in life

non-extreme / non-one-sided method, the golden mean, the whole tao, appropriate simplicity, appropriate practicality, non-extreme utmost, non-extreme in everything, hitting the right and maintain it amidst external variations in conditions and situations, no excesses or deficiencies, centrality normality, moderation balance & suitableness, the basic norm of human action that when complied with will bring the individual and his actions into harmony with the whole universe
T’ien Heaven, Nature, the Divine, God, Sky, tao
hsin - sincere expression, sincerity, abiding by one’s word, truthfulness, natural, confidence


chung - true to yourself, self-loyalty, loyalty and devotion to tao / yi, devotion, inner self, single minded devotion to fulfilling your responsibilities, doing your utmost, fulfilling your heart, devotion of soul, conscientiousness, loyalty, self-honesty, fidelity, sincerity, being wholehearted in practicing yi, heart-middle
ssu - thinking, reflecting, pondering, meditating, contemplating, focusing
shu - consideration for self and others, compassion, forgiveness, relationship, heart & alike
hsiao - filialness, loving respecting and taking care of parents
shih - aspirant, knight-scholar, warrior of tao
ch’eng - sincerity, makoto, jen, self-completion, being genuine, being authentic, abiding by tao, being real in oneself, being true to oneself, chung & hsin, active sincerity, sincerity involving constant effort at practice and self-examination, trueness, the state of the fullest expression of one’s being, internal and external sincerity, being real, keeping it real, moral and material sincerity, no indiscipline deception or depravity, not deceiving oneself, self-honesty, living in accordance with your true nature, the moral integrity of sincerity whereby the individual becomes a genuine and real person, true human being, being genuinely yourself and genuine with others, self-transparency, being aware of your place and limits and who you are, solidity and strength of character without pretense, integrity, absence of artificiality
chih - knowledge, understanding, appreciation, knowing yi
ching - composure