Mencius dismisses slander that Confucius lodged with influential eunuchs for office. He argues Confucius followed rites to serve and upheld righteousness to resign, choosing virtuous hosts even in peril to preserve uncompromised moral integrity.
Mencius explains Shun enfeoffed his murderous brother Xiang out of fraternal love yet stripped him of real power via appointed officials, balancing kin affection and public justice. Shun met Xiang often under political pretexts to sustain their bond.
Mencius explains Shun wed secretly to preserve the essential marital bond, for his hostile parents would forbid it. Though aware of his brother’s murder plots, Shun sincerely trusted his feigned care; gentlemen fall for plausible pretense but not absurd falsehoods.
Mencius explains Shun wept from sorrowful longing for his unloving parents. Though blessed with wealth, status and the whole realm, no worldly glory eased his pain. Great filial piety lies in lifelong heartfelt yearning for one’s parents.
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 患难与共Pinyin: huàn nàn yǔ gòngLiteral Meaning: Share hardships and misfortunes together.Figurative Meaning: Stand side by side through all troubles, disasters and difficult times, bearing hardships jointly with another person or group. Cultural Background This idiom embodies the virtue of loyal companionship in Chinese culture. Its source sentence creates a sharp…
This article re-evaluates Feng Dao, a Five Dynasties prime minister serving nine emperors, long condemned for disloyalty. It records his benevolent deeds aiding civilians amid chaos and cites his poems revealing his pragmatic creed: focus on good deeds rather than personal fame.
by Li Mi (Western Jin Dynasty) Your servant Li Mi speaks: I have suffered misfortune since birth and was early visited by sorrow. My father died when I was just six months old; at age four, my uncle forced my mother to remarry against her will. My grandmother Lady Liu, pitying my orphaned and…
Confucius said, “The noble person has nine things to reflect on: in seeing, think of clarity; in hearing, think of acuteness; in facial expression, think of warmth; in demeanor, think of respectfulness; in speech, think of sincerity; in action, think of diligence; in doubt, think of asking; in anger, think of the difficulties it…