Human and Theory---Research on Confucian Family Ethics

Author: Xu Ruzong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Confucianism categorizes typical interpersonal relationships such as husband-wife, father-son, elder brother-younger brother, ruler-minister, and friend-friend into the "Five Relationships" (Wulun). It advocates mutual love and respect between husband and wife, filial piety from father to son, fraternal affection between elder and younger brothers, righteousness of ruler and loyalty of minister, and trustworthiness in friendships, all in pursuit of harmonious coexistence among people and ultimately achieving social harmony and stability. The essence of Confucianism lies in using the "Five Relationships" as the guiding principle for governance, with the virtue of "Ren" (benevolence) as the spirit for benefiting the world, the Doctrine of the Mean as the method and criterion, and "Li" (ritual propriety) as the norm, all in the hope of eventually realizing the ideal "Great Unity" (Datong) society. This reflects the moral civilization of the Chinese nation over two millennia and continues to deeply influence people's moral behavior and social atmosphere. Based on Confucian classics and historical documents, this book focuses on the "Five Relationships," providing an in-depth and innovative systematic review and exploration of the basic content, historical evolution, characteristics, and functions of Confucian ethical thought. It also compares the similarities and differences between early Confucianism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, as well as between Confucianism and other schools like Mohism, Taoism, Legalism, and Buddhism, and between Eastern and Western ethical perspectives. By doing so, it restores the true meaning of Confucian ethical thought and uncovers the reasonable values embedded within it, aiming to provide valuable insights for establishing a new set of China-specific interpersonal relationships and building a harmonious society.