Towards Others: Confucian Shu’s (Due Consideration) Three Types of Gongfu (Practice)
The Confucian philosophy of the Dao of due consideration 恕 (shu) and of “Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not desire ” 己所不欲，勿施於人 undoubtedly involves the question of “others” and addresses the spiritual pursuit of individual equality, mutual agreement, and communality. Confucianism’s t...
| Published in: | Religions |
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| Authors: | ; |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
MDPI
2023
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| In: |
Religions
Year: 2023, Volume: 14, Issue: 7 |
| Further subjects: | B
Others
B taking what is near at hand as an analogy B Confucianism B putting oneself in the place of others B considering other people’s feelings by one’s own feelings B gongfu of the Dao of due consideration 恕道工夫 |
| Online Access: |
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| Summary: | The Confucian philosophy of the Dao of due consideration 恕 (shu) and of “Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not desire ” 己所不欲，勿施於人 undoubtedly involves the question of “others” and addresses the spiritual pursuit of individual equality, mutual agreement, and communality. Confucianism’s theory of practice 工夫 (gongfu), while emphasizing the establishment and success of oneself, also requires the ability to make others established and successful. There are basically three paths for the virtuous subject to reach others: “taking what is near at hand as an analogy ” 能近取譬 (neng jin qu pi), the “measure” 度 (duo) of considering other people’s emotions on the basis of one’s own emotions 將心比心 (jiang xin bi xin), and putting oneself in the place of others 推己及人 (tui ji ji ren). The present study, drawing on the long commentarial tradition, will fully explicate them as gongfu, that is, as concrete processes of moral practice, revealing the three paths of the Dao of due consideration from self to others, and interpreting them in relation to the dimension of the other in Confucian ethical philosophy. All three are unified and highly practical and are effective means of realizing Confucian benevolence 仁 (ren). They do not exist in a sequential ascending relationship. Through diligent moral practice, people can “help others to take their stand” 立人 (liren) and “help others to realize themselves” 達人 (daren) by following any one of the three types of gongfu. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1444 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religions
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.3390/rel14070824 |