1. THE NOBLE MAN 君子

Literally “son of a noble,” but through Kongzi’s use came to mean “noble in character.” This is attainable through man’s efforts, no longer reliant on bloodline or spirits, thus giving birth to proper humanism. “Noble man” can also be translated as “superior man” or “gentleman,” in contrast with the “inferior man” or “petty man.” It is the virtuous standard of the school.

jūnzǐ 君子: “noble man”

Junzi is a name for one who has attained virtue. The ‘noble man’ establishes the root and cultivates the moral qualities, whereas the petty man (xiaoren 小人) disregards moral law and does violence to his nature. He discerns rightness by humanity, rectifies his public mind, practices principle, and awaits Heaven’s Fate (tianming 天命), whereas the private mind of the petty man only seeks profit.

① Junzi is a term for those who have attained virtue. – Zhu Xi, The Discourses with Collected Commentaries 1:1, tr. Sol

君子，成德之名。

② The noble man understands rightness; the small man understands profit. – Kongzi, Discourses 4:16, tr. Sol

君子喻於義，小人喻於利。

③ The noble man focuses his efforts on the root. When the root is established, the Way will grow lifelong. – Youzi, Discourses 1:2, tr. Sol

君子務本，本立而道生。

④ The noble man practices principle (Natural Law) and waits for destiny (Decree of Heaven) to take its own course. – Mengzi, The Mengzi 7B:33, tr. Chan modified

君子行法，以俟命而已矣。

⑤ In physical nature there is that which the noble man denies to be his original nature. – Zhang Zai, An Explanation of Terms in the Four Books 2.5, tr. Chan modified

故氣質之性，君子有弗性者焉。