{{Short description|Ancient Chinese philosophical term for an ideal person}} {{For|the extinct gibbon genus|Junzi (mammal)}} {{Infobox Chinese | c = 君子 | p = jūnzǐ | gr = jiuntzyy | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|j|ün|1|.|zi|3}} | w = chün1tzu3 | l = "Son of a Vassal". Later used to indicate someone who acts morally. | j = gwan1zi2 | t = | s = | ci = | altname = | kanji = 君子 | romaji = kunshi | kana = くんし | hangul = 군자 | hanja = 君子 | rr = gunja | qn = quân tử | chuhan = 君子 }} thumb|right | Confucius, whose philosophy created the ideal of a Junzi The word '''junzi''' ({{lang-zh|c=君子|p=jūn zǐ|s=|t=|l=person of high stature}} or "Son of the Vassal, or Monarch") is a Chinese philosophical term often translated as "gentleman", "superior person",<ref name="Ames2010">Sometimes "exemplary person".{{cite book|authorlink1=Roger T. Ames|first1=Roger T. |last1=Ames|first2=Henry |last2=Roesmonet, Jr. |title=The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=ulEnpjoqwTwC}}|date=24 November 2010|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-307-77571-9}} Paul R. Goldin translates it "noble man" in an attempt to capture both its early political and later moral meaning. Cf. "[http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/kurtis.hagen/keyterms_junzi.html Confucian Key Terms: Junzi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520073016/http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/kurtis.hagen/keyterms_junzi.html |date=2014-05-20 }}".</ref> or "noble man".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Goldin|first=Paul|title=The Art Of Chinese Philosophy|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2020|isbn=9780691200811}}</ref> Since the characters are overtly gendered, the term is frequently translated as "gentleman"; gentry and distinguished/moral person are common gender-neutral translations. Traditionally referring to the "aristocratic nobility of the Zhou",{{sfn|Gardner|2014|p=18}} ''Junzi'' is employed in the Book of Changes to mean a superior, ideal person who constantly cultivates virtue and improves their character,<ref>''Yi Jing'' [https://ctext.org/book-of-changes/qian "Qian"] quote: "天行健，'''君子'''以自強不息。" [https://yijingdao.org/books/9780991670901.pdf Bernado's translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207005933/https://yijingdao.org/books/9780991670901.pdf |date=2023-12-07 }}: "Heaven action is strong and dynamic. Thus the '''junzi''' never ceases to strengthen himself."</ref> and by Confucius in his works to describe a virtuous person with noble characters.{{sfn|Gardner|2014|p=18}}
== In Confucianism == In Confucianism, the ideal personality is the 聖 ''shèng'', translated as saint or sage. However, since sagehood is unattainable for most people, Confucius articulated a less demanding ideal of a cultured and moral life, using the term ''junzi''—originally denoting a member of the nobility—to refer to anyone who embodies this ideal, regardless of social status. ''Junzi'' acts according to proper conduct (禮, ''li)'' to bring about harmony (和, ''hé''), which Confucianism maintains should rule the home, society, and the state.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=World Religions, Sixth edition|url=https://archive.org/details/worldreligions00matt|url-access=limited|last=Matthews|first=Warren|publisher=Wadsworth Cengage Learning|year=2008|isbn=9780495603856|location=Belmont, CA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldreligions00matt/page/n206 184]}}</ref> ''Li'' primarily has to do with social expectations, both in terms of the formal behavior and the execution of religious rites and imperial ceremonies also proper conduct in human relationships.<ref name=":0" /> Confucius considered a ''junzi'' to be someone who embodies humanity – one who possesses a totality of the highest human qualities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hB9qDwAAQBAJ&dq=Junzi+gentleman&pg=PT31|title=Cheng Ho and Islam in Southeast Asia|last=Sen|first=Tan Ta|date=2003-08-01|publisher=Flipside Digital Content Company Inc.|isbn=9789814515436|language=en}}</ref> He elaborated that ''junzi'' embody the concept of ''ren'' (仁, ''rén'') and outlined specific qualities they have, recorded by his disciples in the ''Analects''.<ref name=":1" /> A ''junzi'' embodies moral superiority by adhering to the ritual code of the tradition, displaying respect and dignity towards others, and striving for virtues such as humility, sincerity, trustworthiness, righteousness, and compassion.{{sfn|Gardner|2014|p=18}} Zhu Xi categorized the ''junzi'' as second only to the sage.
''Junzi'' have many characteristics. A ''junzi'' does not compromise his virtues even in poverty; a ''junzi's'' actions speaks louder than his words; a ''junzi'' is loyal, obedient and knowledgeable. A ''junzi'' disciplines himself. According to Mencius, ''ren'' is the core virtue of a ''junzi''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Tianshi |author-link=Yang Tianshi |title=君子-儒學的理想人格 |trans-title=Junzi - The ideal personality in Confucianism |url=http://jds.cass.cn/Item/1390.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418015158/http://jds.cass.cn/Item/1390.aspx |archive-date=2015-04-18 |access-date=2012-11-29 |language=zh}}</ref>
The concept and term of ''junzi'' were used as Chinese proverbs. An example is "君子成人之美" (''jūn zǐ chéng rén zhī měi''), which roughly means "A ''junzi'' brings out the best in people".<ref>Analects [https://ctext.org/analects/yan-yuan#n1397 "Yan Yuan"] quote: "子曰：「'''君子成人之美'''，不成人之惡。小人反是。」" Translation based on [https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/23420 Eno (2015)]: "The Master said: ′'''The noble person perfects what is beautiful in people'''; and does not perfect what is ugly. The petty person does just the opposite.′"</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rohsenow |first=John S. |title=ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yanyu) |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=2003 |isbn=0824822218 |location=Honolulu |pages=76}}</ref>
== Governance == As the potential leader of a nation and country, the son of the ruler is raised to express superior ethical and moral positions while gaining inner peace through virtue. To Confucius, the ''junzi'' sustained the functions of government and social stratification through his ethical values. Despite its literal meaning, any righteous man willing to improve himself can become a ''junzi''.
The ''junzi'' rules by acting virtuously himself. It is thought that his pure virtue would lead others to follow his example. The ultimate goal is that government behaves much like family. Thus at all levels filial piety promotes harmony and the ''junzi'' acts as a beacon for this piety.
== Junzi and xiaoren == By contrast the ''xiaoren'' ({{linktext|小人}}, ''xiăorén'', "scoundrel, small or petty person") does not grasp the value of virtues and seeks only immediate personal gain. The scoundrel, or petty person, is {{linktext|egotistic}} and does not consider the consequences of his/her actions. Should the ruler or state be surrounded by ''xiaoren'' as opposed to ''junzi'', governance and the people will suffer due to their selfish small-mindness. Examples of such ''xiaoren'' individuals can range from those who indulge in self-satisfying sensual and emotional pleasures and gains to the career politician who is interested merely in power and fame rather than the long-term benefit of others. There are many expressions in Confucius' writings that contrast the two, for instance: "君子和而不同，小人同而不和." (''jūn zǐ hé ér bù tóng, xiǎo rén tóng ér bù hé''); "The ''junzi'' acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them; the ''xiaoren'' seeks to be like others and does not act in harmony."<ref>''Analects'', [https://ctext.org/analects/zi-lu#n1428 Zi Lu] translation based on Eno (2015)</ref>
==See also== {{Wikiquote}} *Confucianism * Five Classics - five ancient Chinese texts forming the core of the Confucian canon *Four arts - four scholarly accomplishments of ancient Chinese gentleman *Four Gentlemen - four plants depicted in art as symbols of Confucian virtues *Four Sages - four eminent Confucian figures *{{section link|Magnanimity|Aristotle}} - Aristotle’s virtue of “greatness of soul” *New Man (utopian concept) - utopian concept of creating an ideal “new” human archetype across various religious and political ideologies
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Bibliography== * {{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Daniel K. |title=Confucianism: a very short introduction |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford Univ. Press |isbn=978-0-19-539891-5 |series= |location=Oxford}}
== External links == ''Lunyu'' 論語, ''The Analects''; the Database of Religious History, at https://religiondatabase.org/browse/1063/#/
Category:Concepts in Chinese philosophy Category:Confucian ethics Category:Chinese culture Category:Wisdom