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"possessing the good qualities of one's clan"

Chinese translation: 仁

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English term or phrase:	"possessing the good qualities of one's clan"
Chinese translation:	仁
Entered by:	Wenjer Leuschel

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08:47 Jun 8, 2008

English to Chinese translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - History / Character first used by Confucius

English term or phrase: "possessing the good qualities of one's clan"

Hi,

I'm looking for a single character.

In his translation of “The Analects of Confucius”, Arthur Whaley mentions a Chinese character, which, according to Waley, means "possessing the good qualities of one's clan".

The Wade-Giles transcription of this character is “jên”, so the Pinyin might be “ren”, but I'm really not sure.

All the best,

Simon

SeiTT KudoZ activity Questions: 1487 (5 open) (1 without valid answers) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United Kingdom
Local time: 08:06

仁

Explanation:
It must be this character, as it states in 孔子家语 as follows:

哀公问政于孔子．孔子对曰：“文武之政，布在方策，其人存则其政举，其人亡则其政息．天道敏生，人道敏政，地道敏树，夫政者，犹蒲卢也，待化以成，故为政在于得人，取人以身，修道以仁．仁者，人也，亲亲为大；义者，宜也，尊贤为大．亲亲之杀，尊贤之等，礼所以生也．礼者，政之本也，是以君子不可以不修身．思修身，不可以不事亲；思事亲，不可以不知人；思知人，不可以不知天．天下之达道有五，其所以行之者三，曰，君臣也、父子也、夫妇也、昆弟也、朋友也．五者，天下之达道，智仁勇三者，天下之达德也．所以行之者，一也．或生而知之，或学而知之，或困而知之，及其知之，一也．或安而行之，或利而行之，或勉强而行之，及其成功，一也．”....

These passages explain the content of "仁" as the qualities of one's clan. In these passages, it is explained the qualities of being a member of the clan in every aspect, not matter being a king or a subordinate, a father or a son, a husband or a wife, an elder brother or a younger brother, a friend or what else in the clan.

"仁者，人也，亲亲为大。" That's the basic of being a member of a community/society.

Selected response from:

Wenjer Leuschel
Taiwan
Local time: 16:06

Grading comment

many thanks excellent
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