Rites, Rituals and Confucius

 (c) by Mark Dempsey

This paper describes the relationship between Confucian virtue, traditional rites, and ritual.  Confucianism emphasizes rituals, which encompass ceremonies, etiquette, and social norms, all designed to promote order, harmony, and respect. Rituals are crucial for maintaining social cohesion and for understanding one's place in the world.

 

"The superior man thinks only of virtue; the inferior man thinks only of comfort." -- Confucius' saying that prompted the search for the meaning of virtue: Connecting virtue and rites (quoting Confucius):

“Courtesy without rites is labor lost. Prudence without rites is timidity. Courage without rites is disorder. Honesty without rites is impatience. When a gentleman cherishes his family, the people are inspired towards benevolence. When he does not desert that of long standing, the people are not stealthy.”