The word junzi (Chinese: 君子; pinyin: jūn zǐ; lit. 'person of high stature' or "Son of the Vassal, or Monarch") is a Chinese philosophical term often translated as "gentleman," "superior person",[1] or "noble man."[2] The term is frequently translated as "gentleman", since the characters are overtly gendered. However, in recent years, scholars have been using the term without the gender component, and translate the term as "distinguished person", "moral person", and so on. The characters 君子 were employed both the Duke Wen of Zhou in the "Classic of Changes" 易經 (I-ching)[3] and Confucius in his works to describe the ideal man.
In Confucianism, the ideal personality is the 聖 shèng , translated as saint or sage. However, sagehood is hard to attain and so Confucius used the noun junzi, respectable person, which more individuals could achieve. Junzi acts according to proper conduct (禮 lǐ or li) to achieve 和 hé or he, harmony, which Confucianism maintains should rule the home, society, and the empire.[4]Li primarily has to do with social expectations, both in terms of the formal behavior required during religious rites and imperial ceremonies and proper conduct in human relationships.[4] Confucius also considered a junzi to be someone who embodies humanity – one who possesses a totality of the highest human qualities.[5] The philosopher called this a person who embodies the concept of 仁 rén and outlined specific qualities, which were recorded by his disciples in the Analects.[5] Many of these were used as Chinese proverbs (諺語 yàn yǔ ). An example is 君子成人之美 jūn zǐ chéng rén zhī měi, which figuratively means "A respectable person [always helps] others in their needs".[6][7] Confucius redefined the term to represent an individual of moral excellence rather than just social nobility. A junzi embodies moral superiority by adhering to the ritual code of the tradition, displaying respect and dignity towards others, and striving for virtues such as humility, sincerity, trustworthiness, righteousness, and compassion.[8]
Zhu Xi defined a junzi as second only to the sage.
Junzi has many characteristics. A junzi can live with poverty; a junzi does more and speaks less. A junzi is loyal, obedient and knowledgeable. A junzi disciplines himself. Among these, 仁 ren is at the core of a junzi.[9](in Chinese)
Leadershipedit
As the potential leader of a nation and country, the son of the ruler is raised to express superior ethical and moral positions while gaining inner peace through virtue. To Confucius, the junzi sustained the functions of government and social stratification through his ethical values. Despite its literal meaning, any righteous man willing to improve himself can become a junzi.
By contrast the xiaoren (小人, xiăorén, "scoundrel, small or petty person") does not grasp the value of virtues and seeks only immediate personal gain. The scoundrel, or petty person, is egotistic and does not consider the consequences of his/her actions. Should the ruler be surrounded by xiaoren as opposed to junzi, governance and the people will suffer due to their selfish small-mindness. Examples of such xiaoren individuals can range from those who indulge in self-satisfying sensual and emotional pleasures and gains to the career politician who is interested merely in power and fame; neither aiming for the long-term benefit of others. There are many expressions in Confucius' writings that contrast the two; for instance 君子和而不同，小人同而不和。jūn zǐ hé ér bù tóng , xiǎo rén tóng ér bù hé "The noble person acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them; the petty person seeks to be like others and does not act in harmony."[10]
The junzi rules by acting virtuously himself. It is thought that his pure virtue would lead others to follow his example. The ultimate goal is that government behaves much like family. Thus at all levels filial piety promotes harmony and the junzi acts as a beacon for this piety.
^Sometimes "exemplary person".Ames, Roger T.; Roesmonet, Jr., Henry (24 November 2010). The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN978-0-307-77571-9. Paul R. Goldin translates it "noble man" in an attempt to capture both its early political and later moral meaning. Cf. "Confucian Key Terms: Junzi 2014-05-20 at the Wayback Machine".
^Goldin, Paul (2020). The Art Of Chinese Philosophy. Princeton University Press. ISBN9780691200811.
^Yi Jing "Qian" quote: "天行健，君子以自強不息。" Bernado's translation: "Heaven action is strong and dynamic. Thus the noble never ceases to strengthen himself."
^ abMatthews, Warren (2008). World Religions, Sixth edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. pp. 184. ISBN9780495603856.
^ abSen, Tan Ta (2003-08-01). Cheng Ho and Islam in Southeast Asia. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. ISBN9789814515436.
^Analects "Yan Yuan" quote: "子曰：「君子成人之美，不成人之惡。小人反是。」" Translation based on Eno (2015): "The Master said: ′The noble person perfects what is beautiful in people; and does not perfect what is ugly. The petty person does just the opposite.′"
^Rohsenow, John S. (2003). ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yanyu). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 76. ISBN0824822218.
^Gardner, Daniel K. (2014-06-26), "Confucianism in practice", Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University PressNew York, pp. 87–111, ISBN0-19-539891-2, retrieved 2023-11-26
^. Archived from the original on 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
junzi, extinct, gibbon, genus, mammal, word, junzi, chinese, 君子, pinyin, jūn, person, high, stature, vassal, monarch, chinese, philosophical, term, often, translated, gentleman, superior, person, noble, term, frequently, translated, gentleman, since, character. For the extinct gibbon genus see Junzi mammal The word junzi Chinese 君子 pinyin jun zǐ lit person of high stature or Son of the Vassal or Monarch is a Chinese philosophical term often translated as gentleman superior person 1 or noble man 2 The term is frequently translated as gentleman since the characters are overtly gendered However in recent years scholars have been using the term without the gender component and translate the term as distinguished person moral person and so on The characters 君子 were employed both the Duke Wen of Zhou in the Classic of Changes 易經 I ching 3 and Confucius in his works to describe the ideal man JunziChinese nameChinese君子Literal meaning Son of a Vassal Later used to indicate someone who acts morally TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinjunzǐGwoyeu RomatzyhjiuntzyyWade Gileschun1tzu3IPA tɕy n tsɹ Yue CantoneseJyutpinggwan1zi2Vietnamese nameVietnamese alphabetquan tửChữ Han君子Korean nameHangul군자Hanja君子TranscriptionsRevised RomanizationgunjaJapanese nameKanji君子KanaくんしTranscriptionsRomanizationkunshi Contents 1 Confucianism 2 Leadership 3 See also 4 References 5 See alsoConfucianism editIn Confucianism the ideal personality is the 聖 sheng translated as saint or sage However sagehood is hard to attain and so Confucius used the noun junzi respectable person which more individuals could achieve Junzi acts according to proper conduct 禮 lǐ or li to achieve 和 he or he harmony which Confucianism maintains should rule the home society and the empire 4 Li primarily has to do with social expectations both in terms of the formal behavior required during religious rites and imperial ceremonies and proper conduct in human relationships 4 Confucius also considered a junzi to be someone who embodies humanity one who possesses a totality of the highest human qualities 5 The philosopher called this a person who embodies the concept of 仁 ren and outlined specific qualities which were recorded by his disciples in the Analects 5 Many of these were used as Chinese proverbs 諺語 yan yǔ An example is 君子成人之美 jun zǐ cheng ren zhi mei which figuratively means A respectable person always helps others in their needs 6 7 Confucius redefined the term to represent an individual of moral excellence rather than just social nobility A junzi embodies moral superiority by adhering to the ritual code of the tradition displaying respect and dignity towards others and striving for virtues such as humility sincerity trustworthiness righteousness and compassion 8 Zhu Xi defined a junzi as second only to the sage Junzi has many characteristics A junzi can live with poverty a junzi does more and speaks less A junzi is loyal obedient and knowledgeable A junzi disciplines himself Among these 仁 ren is at the core of a junzi 9 in Chinese Leadership editAs the potential leader of a nation and country the son of the ruler is raised to express superior ethical and moral positions while gaining inner peace through virtue To Confucius the junzi sustained the functions of government and social stratification through his ethical values Despite its literal meaning any righteous man willing to improve himself can become a junzi By contrast the xiaoren 小人 xiăoren scoundrel small or petty person does not grasp the value of virtues and seeks only immediate personal gain The scoundrel or petty person is egotistic and does not consider the consequences of his her actions Should the ruler be surrounded by xiaoren as opposed to junzi governance and the people will suffer due to their selfish small mindness Examples of such xiaoren individuals can range from those who indulge in self satisfying sensual and emotional pleasures and gains to the career politician who is interested merely in power and fame neither aiming for the long term benefit of others There are many expressions in Confucius writings that contrast the two for instance 君子和而不同 小人同而不和 jun zǐ he er bu tong xiǎo ren tong er bu he The noble person acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them the petty person seeks to be like others and does not act in harmony 10 The junzi rules by acting virtuously himself It is thought that his pure virtue would lead others to follow his example The ultimate goal is that government behaves much like family Thus at all levels filial piety promotes harmony and the junzi acts as a beacon for this piety See also edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Junzi Confucianism Confucian art Bodhisattva Four arts Four Gentlemen Five Classics Four Sages Magnanimity Aristotle New Man utopian concept Ubermensch ZhenrenReferences edit Sometimes exemplary person Ames Roger T Roesmonet Jr Henry 24 November 2010 The Analects of Confucius A Philosophical Translation Random House Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 307 77571 9 Paul R Goldin translates it noble man in an attempt to capture both its early political and later moral meaning Cf Confucian Key Terms Junzi Archived 2014 05 20 at the Wayback Machine Goldin Paul 2020 The Art Of Chinese Philosophy Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691200811 Yi Jing Qian quote 天行健 君子以自強不息 Bernado s translation Heaven action is strong and dynamic Thus the noble never ceases to strengthen himself a b Matthews Warren 2008 World Religions Sixth edition Belmont CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning pp 184 ISBN 9780495603856 a b Sen Tan Ta 2003 08 01 Cheng Ho and Islam in Southeast Asia Flipside Digital Content Company Inc ISBN 9789814515436 Analects Yan Yuan quote 子曰 君子成人之美 不成人之惡 小人反是 Translation based on Eno 2015 The Master said The noble person perfects what is beautiful in people and does not perfect what is ugly The petty person does just the opposite Rohsenow John S 2003 ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs Yanyu Honolulu University of Hawaii Press p 76 ISBN 0824822218 Gardner Daniel K 2014 06 26 Confucianism in practice Confucianism A Very Short Introduction Oxford University PressNew York pp 87 111 ISBN 0 19 539891 2 retrieved 2023 11 26 君子 儒學的理想人格 A respectable person The Ideal personal qualities as viewed by Confucius and through Confucianism Archived from the original on 2015 04 18 Retrieved 2012 11 29 Analects Zi Lu translation based on Eno 2015 See also editLunyu 論語 The Analects the Database of Religious History at https religiondatabase org browse 1063 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Junzi amp oldid 1194254803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
