Title: On Three Transformations of Honesty Thought in Chinese Ancient Times
Abstract: The honesty thought in Chinese ancient times went through three historical transformations. In Collection of Ancient Texts, honesty was only a small item about king's morality and its position was not so high as those moral categories of filial piety and kindness. Up to Zuo Zhuan (The Spring and Autumn Annals by Zuoqiu Ming), the moral attribute of honesty was better than those in Western Zhou Dynasty. Especially in the respects of mediating in the relationship among marquises states and building up its image, the honest ethics got much weight commonly. As for Confucius, the honest ethics went through a historic turn again. From the external moral standards, it changed its direction to the individual and kindhearted morality. Zisi and Mencius made great efforts to the important development of Confucian honesty thought. It made honesty possess the twofold meanings of truth and innocence in the Way of Heaven and not deceiving oneself as well as others in the humanity.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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