Yi (philosophy) (original) (raw)

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Concept in Confucianism

Yi
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 義
Simplified Chinese 义
TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinyìBopomofoㄧˋWade–Gilesi4Tongyong PinyinyìIPA[î]Yue: CantoneseYale RomanizationyihJyutpingji6IPA[ji˨]
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese nghĩa
Chữ Hán 義
Korean name
Hangul 의
Hanja 義
TranscriptionsRevised Romanizationui
Japanese name
Kanji 義
Hiragana ぎ
TranscriptionsRomanizationgi

In Chinese philosophy, yi (simplified Chinese: 义; traditional Chinese: 義; pinyin: yì) refers to righteousness, justice, morality, and meaning.

In Confucianism, yi involves a moral disposition to do good, and also the intuition and sensibility to do so competently.[1][2] Yi represents moral acumen which goes beyond simple rule following, involving a balanced understanding of a situation, and the "creative insight" and decision-generating ability necessary to apply virtues properly and appropriately in a situation with no loss of sight of the total good.[2]

Yi resonates with Confucian philosophy's orientation towards the cultivation of benevolence (ren) and ritual propriety (li).

In application, yi is a "complex principle" which includes:[2]

  1. skill in crafting actions which have moral fitness according to a given concrete situation
  2. the wise recognition of such fitness
  3. the intrinsic satisfaction that comes from that recognition

The Zhuangzi discusses the relationship between yi (righteousness) and de (virtue).[3]

  1. ^ Archie (2000).
  2. ^ a b c Cheng (1972), p. 271.
  3. ^ Watson (1968), pp. 105–6.