Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...

, the Sangang Wuchang (), sometimes translated as the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues or the Three Guiding Principles and Five Constant Regulations, or more simply "bonds and virtues" ( ), are the three most important human relationships and the five most important virtues. They are considered the moral and political requirements of Confucianism as well as the eternal unchanging "essence of life and bonds of society."

History

The expression of is no older than the

Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

, when it was first articulated by Dong Zhongshu (179–104 BCE), and was not commonly used until the 10th century CE. From the 11th century onward,

Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn period () and Wa ...

heavily emphasized the three bonds and five virtues, believing that humans could become sages through perfecting these relationships and virtues.

Meaning

Three Bonds

The three bonds are between father and son, lord and retainer, and husband and wife and they constitute three of the five relationships () described in the

Mencius Mencius ( ); born Mèng Kē (); or Mèngzǐ (; 372–289 BC) was a Chinese Confucianism, Confucian Chinese philosophy, philosopher who has often been described as the "second Sage", that is, second to Confucius himself. He is part of Confuc ...

. According to Hsu Dau-lin, the concept of the Three Bonds was originally a Legalist idea.

Five Virtues

The five most important virtues are benevolence ('' ren'' ), righteousness ('' yi'' ), propriety ('' li'' ), wisdom (''

zhi There are many Chinese characters transcribed in Hanyu Pinyin as ''zhi'' ( Wade-Giles ''chih''): * 志 zhì, aspiration, will. The "will" is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of Mencius, leading authorities such as David Nivison to c ...

'' ), and trustworthiness ('' xin'' ). The first four virtues were grouped together in the '' Mengzi''. The fifth virtue, ''xin'', was added by Dong Zhongshu. Trustworthiness, or sincerity, is considered the most important of the five virtues, and the foundation for the other virtues. The remaining virtues derive from the

Four Sprouts The ''Mencius'' (; Old Chinese: *mˤraŋ-s tsəʔ) is a collection of conversations, anecdotes, and series of genuine and imagined interviews by the Confucian philosopher Mencius. The book is one of the Chinese Thirteen Classics, and explores ...

described by

in the Confucian

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

of the same name. Benevolence is described as "forming one body" in relation to others, which requires seeing ourselves as extensions of others and vice versa. Paradigm cases of ''ren'' include acts of love or acting in others' interests, such as taking care of a family member. Righteousness is when someone refuses to violate prohibitions that would be regarded as shameful or degrading such as bribery. Righteousness can be seen as the distribution of goods according to one's merit and position. Propriety or ''li'' is broader in scope than the English word would entail. It is when someone performs a ritual with reverence, covering social protocol in situations that require a sense of respect, such as weddings, funerals, greetings, and serving food and drink. Wisdom is understanding the other virtues' characteristic motives and feelings, correctly assessing the quality of a person's character, and knowing the best means to achieve virtuous ends. Trustworthiness or faithfulness is understood as commitment to reality in a consistent and reliable way. Some Confucians did not consider ''xin'' to be its own domain of activity since it regulates and supports virtues. They all require one to be aware of what is real and avoid self-serving delusions.

References

Bibliography