self-cultivation

  • Seeing Luo Zhanglong Off to Japan [Mao’s Poems]

    – By Mao Zedong, April 1918 Clouds part over Heng Yue, long gloom at last dispelled,Among Tianma and Phoenix Peaks spring trees unfold.

  • Zi Zhou Zhi Fu [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

    Zi Zhou Zhi Fu was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. When Yao offered to yield the throne to Xu You, Xu You declined. Yao then offered it to Zi Zhou Zhi Fu.

  • Wang Xizhi Seeks Immortals

    Wang Xizhi had practiced calligraphy with a brush at home for three years. Seeing that his calligraphy still fell short of mastery, he began to wonder: “Everyone says I’m clever. I’ve worked hard for three years, yet my calligraphy isn’t up to par. It must be either because my teacher wasn’t skilled enough or…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.10

    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…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.9

    Confucius said, “Those who understand by birth are the highest; those who understand through learning come next; those who learn only after encountering difficulties are yet lower; and those who encounter difficulties but still do not learn – these are the lowest of the people.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.7

    Confucius said, “The noble person has three things to guard against: in youth, when one’s vital energies (xue qi) are not yet settled, guard against lust; in prime adulthood, when vital energies are at their strongest and most vigorous, guard against contentiousness; in old age, when vital energies have declined, guard against greed.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.4

    Confucius said, “There are three kinds of beneficial friends and three kinds of harmful friends. Friendship with the upright, friendship with the trustworthy, and friendship with the well-informed – these are beneficial. Friendship with the fawning, friendship with the insincerely agreeable, and friendship with the glibly eloquent – these are harmful.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.33

    The Master said, “If one attains a position through wisdom but cannot preserve it through humaneness, even if gained, it will surely be lost. If one attains it through wisdom and can preserve it through humaneness, yet does not govern with dignity, the people will not show respect. Even if one has wisdom, preserves…

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.32

    The Master said, “The noble person seeks the Way, not sustenance. In farming, hunger may still occur; in studying, official emolument often follows. Thus, the noble person worries about the Way, not about poverty.”