Four Books

¹ xìng 性: “human nature”

“What Heaven imparts to man is called human nature. To follow our nature is called the Way. Cultivating the Way is called education.” – Doctrine of the Mean, ch. 1, tr. Chan

² qíng 情: “feelings”

“Feeling parallel nature; they are nature when aroused.” – Chen Chun, Chen Chun’s Explanation of Terms 4:1, tr. Chan

³ xīn 心: “heartmind”

“The nature is the principle of the mind. Feelings are the movement of the nature. And the mind is the master of feelings and the nature.” – Zhu Xi, Collected Conversations of Master Zhu 5:55, tr. Chan

⁴ yì 意: “will”

“Those who wished to rectify their minds would first make their wills sincere.” – Great Learning, ch. 2, tr. Chan

⁵ dé 德: “virtue”

“In the operation of the Way, the endowment that things have received is called the virtue of Heaven.” – Chen Chun, Chen Chun’s Explanation of Terms 17:2, tr. Chan

⁶ cái 才: “capability”

“Capability means natural endowment and ability. Natural endowment refers to the raw material, the stuff that enables one to perform. Here we are talking about essence.” – Chen Chun, Chen Chun’s Explanation of Terms 5.1, tr. Chan modified