Posted 2016/11/30
Ren, or benevolence, is a moral category with infinite meanings in ancient China. It originally refers to endearment among people. Confucius regards "Ren" as the ultimate moral principle, standard and level. One shall fulfill his obligations in the society, the spirit of which is to love others, or "Ren"; one must be kindhearted towards others so as to fulfill his social responsibilities.
The connotation of "Ren" manifests itself in the connected human feelings and interrelated sufferings between human beings as well as between substances and spirit, that is, the general sympathy and sense of justice in society. The foundation of "Ren" is filial piety, which requires one person to love his parents, brothers and the whole family, and then put himself in the place of another to love extensively the others.
The "Ren" advocated by Confucius was especially aimed at officials and men of honor. He required the integration of morality, talent, salary and status and the complementary functions of virtue and wisdom as well as internal benevolence and external beauty, thus promoting the happiness of ordinary people and social stability.
Confucius regarded benevolence as the most important character of human beings, and that it dwelled in the nature of everybody and could be reached by anyone who devoted himself to it.
