Good and Evil in Confucianism

One sees little reference to evil in Confucian writings. Of course, the word "evil" has over-tones in a Christian society. One dictionary definition, e.g., calls it "a cosmic evil force." In Confucianism,
another definition is better: "something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity."

Here is what I have found in "Learning to Be a Sage, Conversations of Master Chu" translated by Daniel Gardner (isbn 0-520-06525-5):

p. 165, #6.15
"...concentrate your mental energy, and whatever is obscure to you and whatever evil thoughts you might have will disappear...."

p.165 & 166, #6.18
"...Man's nature is in all instances good; it's simply because man has let go of his mind that he falls into evil."
And also this: 
"Never can what has been allotted to man by the yin and yang psychophysical stuff [chi] and the five agents contain evil. It's  simply because man himself does not move toward the good that he becomes evil."
And also this: 
"...it's important that in those places where good and evil have become mixed students disentangle them; they mustn't let the shoots of goodness that grow in even the smallest patch of evil be cut down."

Notice how main stream Confucianism holds to belief in the innate goodness of humanity.

One rarely sees evil mentioned in Confucian writings. I did a google search on "good + evil + Confucianism" and found this web page:

http://www.onelittleangel.com/wisdom/quotes/religion_net.asp?mc=16

You will have to use the "find in this page" tool of your web browser to find the occurrences of "evil" on the page. There are more than one.

That web page has this quote from Wang Yangming:
"In the original substance of the mind there is no distinction of good and evil. When the will becomes active, however, such distinction exists. The faculty of innate knowledge is to know good and evil. The investigation of things is to do good and to remove evil."

"The investigation of things" is a major topic in itself, but is too much to add to this article.

Finally, I'll mention the best book I've seen on the topic of evil: "People of the Lie, the Hope for Healing Human Evil" by M. Scott Peck.  There are a number of books on the topic of evil referenced by Peck. I will warn you that Peck's book crumbles into confused mysticism at the end. It's a good book with no suggestions for a solution.

Scott Peck once tried to do an exorcism. Yes, he tried to drive out demons. No, he is not Catholic. The problem of evil seemed to drive him "around the bend."

Confucianism is rational and balanced. Confucianism is thoughtful, deep, and considers many topics also of interest to Christians.

Confucius on the Sage

Have you wondered what Confucious said about the sage?  I have assembled the quotes for you.  All references to “sage” (in bold font) from The Analects of Confucius, translation by James Legge.  This version is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.

BOOK III

CHAP. XXIV.

The border warden at Yi requested to be introduced to the Master, saying, 'When men of superior virtue have come to this, I have never been denied the privilege of seeing them.' The followers of the sage introduced him, and when he came out from the interview, he said, 'My friends, why are you distressed by your master's loss of office? The kingdom has long been without the principles of truth and right; Heaven is going to use your master as a bell with its wooden tongue.'

BOOK VI

CHAP. XXVIII.

        1. Tsze-kung said, 'Suppose the case of a man extensively conferring benefits on the people, and able to assist all, what would you say of him? Might he be called perfectly virtuous?' The Master said, 'Why speak only of virtue in connection with him? Must he not have the qualities of a sage? Even Yao and Shun were still solicitous about this.

        2. 'Now the man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.

        3. 'To be able to judge of others by what is nigh in ourselves — this may be called the art of virtue.'

BOOK VII

CHAP. XXV.

       1. The Master said, 'A sage it is not mine to see; could I see a man of real talent and virtue, that would satisfy me.'

        2. The Master said, 'A good man it is not mine to see; could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me.

        3. 'Having not and yet affecting to have, empty and yet affecting to be full, straitened and yet affecting to be at ease — it is difficult with such characteristics to have constancy.'

BOOK VII

CHAP. XXXIII.

The Master said, 'The sage and the man of perfect virtue — how dare I rank myself with them? It may simply be said of me, that I strive to become such without satiety, and teach others without weariness.' Kung-hsi Hwa said, 'This is just what we, the disciples, cannot imitate you in.'

BOOK IX

CHAP. VI.

        1. A high officer asked Tsze-kung, saying, 'May we not say that your Master is a sage? How various is his ability!'

        2. Tsze-kung said, 'Certainly Heaven has endowed him unlimitedly. He is about a sage. And, moreover, his ability is various.'

        3. The Master heard of the conversation and said, 'Does the high officer know me? When I was young, my condition was low, and therefore I acquired my ability in many things, but they were mean matters. Must the superior man have such variety of ability? He does not need variety of ability.'

        4. Lao said, 'The Master said, "Having no official employment, I acquired many arts."'

BOOK XI

CHAP. XIX.

Tsze-chang asked what were the characteristics of the GOOD man. The Master said, 'He does not tread in the footsteps of others, but moreover, he does not enter the chamber of the sage.'

BOOK XVI

CHAP. VIII.

        1. Confucius said, 'There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe. He stands in awe of the ordinances of Heaven. He stands in awe of great men. He stands in awe of the words of sages.

        2. 'The mean man does not know the ordinances of Heaven, and consequently does not stand in awe of them. He is disrespectful to great men. He makes sport of the words of sages.'

BOOK XIX

CHAP. XII.

        1. Tsze-yu said, 'The disciples and followers of Tsze-hsia, in sprinkling and sweeping the ground, in answering and replying, in advancing and receding, are sufficiently accomplished.

But these are only the branches of learning, and they are left ignorant of what is essential.-- How can they be acknowledged as sufficiently taught?'

        2. Tsze-hsia heard of the remark and said, 'Alas! Yen Yu is wrong. According to the way of the superior man in teaching, what departments are there which he considers of prime importance, and delivers? what are there which he considers of secondary importance, and allows himself to be idle about? But as in the case of plants, which are assorted according to their classes, so he deals with his disciples. How can the way of a superior man be such as to

make fools of any of them? Is it not the sage alone, who can unite in one the beginning and the consummation of learning?'

BOOK XIX

CHAP. XXIV.

Shu-sun Wu-shu having spoken revilingly of Chung-ni, Tsze-kung said, 'It is of no use doing so. Chung-ni cannot be reviled. The talents and virtue of other men are hillocks and mounds which may be stepped over. Chung-ni is the sun or moon, which it is not possible to step over. Although a man may wish to cut himself off from the sage, what harm can he do to the sun or

moon? He only shows that he does not know his own capacity.

BOOK XIX

CHAP. XXV.

        1. Ch'an Tsze-ch'in, addressing Tsze-kung, said, 'You are too modest. How can Chung-ni be said to be superior to you?'

        2. Tsze-kung said to him, 'For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We ought to be careful indeed in what we say.

        3. 'Our Master cannot be attained to, just in the same way as the heavens cannot be gone up to by the steps of a stair.

        4. 'Were our Master in the position of the ruler of a State or the chief of a Family, we should find verified the description which has been given of a sage's rule — he would plant the people, and forthwith they would be established; he would lead them on, and forthwith they would follow him; he would make them happy, and forthwith multitudes would resort to his dominions; he would stimulate them, and forthwith they would be harmonious. While he lived, he would be glorious. When he died, he would be bitterly lamented. How is it possible for him to be attained to?'

Confucious on Wisdom

Have you wondered what Confucious said about wisdom?  I have assembled the quotes for you.  All references to "wisdom" (in bold font) are from The Analects of Confucius, translation by James Legge.  This version is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.  I downloaded this version as a text file and did a text search on the word "wisdom."

BOOK V

        CHAP. XVII. The Master said, 'Tsang Wan kept a large tortoise in a house, on the capitals of the pillars of which he had hills made, and with representations of duckweed on the small pillars above the beams supporting the rafters.-- Of what sort was his wisdom?'

BOOK V

        CHAP. XX. The Master said, 'When good order prevailed in his country, Ning Wu acted the part of a wise man. When his country was in disorder, he acted the part of a stupid man. Others may equal his wisdom, but they cannot equal his stupidity.'

BOOK VI

        CHAP. XX. Fan Ch'ih asked what constituted wisdom. The Master said, 'To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom.' He asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, 'The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration; -- this may be called perfect virtue.'

BOOK XVII

                CHAP. XXIV

                1. Tsze-kung said, 'Has the superior man his hatreds also?' The Master said, 'He has his hatreds. He hates those who proclaim the evil of others. He hates the man who, being in a low station, slanders his superiors. He hates those who have valour merely, and are unobservant of propriety. He hates those who are forward and determined, and, at the same time, of contracted understanding.'

        2. The Master then inquired, 'Ts'ze, have you also your hatreds?' Tsze-kung replied, 'I hate those who pry out matters, and ascribe the knowledge to their wisdom. I hate those who are only not modest, and think that they are valorous. I hate those who make known secrets, and think that they are straightforward.'

Confucius on Evil

Have you wondered what Confucious said about evil?  I have assembled the quotes for you.  All references to “evil” (in bold font)  are from The Analects of Confucius, translation by James Legge.  This version is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.  I downloaded this version as a text file and did a text search on the word "evil."

BOOK XII

CHAP. XXI.

        1. Fan Ch'ih rambling with the Master under the trees about the rain altars, said, 'I

venture to ask how to exalt virtue, to correct cherished evil, and to discover delusions.'

        2. The Master said, 'Truly a good question!

        3. 'If doing what is to be done be made the first business, and success a secondary

consideration;-- is not this the way to exalt virtue? To assail one's own wickedness and not assail

that of others;-- is not this the way to correct cherished evil? For a morning's anger to disregard

one's own life, and involve that of his parents;-- is not this a case of delusion?'

BOOK XV

CHAP. XXIV.

        1. The Master said, 'In my dealings with men, whose evil do I blame, whose goodness do I

praise, beyond what is proper? If I do sometimes exceed in praise, there must be ground

for it in my examination of the individual.

        2. 'This people supplied the ground why the three dynasties pursued the path of

straightforwardness.'

BOOK XVI

CHAP. XI.

        1. Confucius said, 'Contemplating good, and pursuing it, as if they could not reach it;

contemplating evil, and shrinking from it, as they would from thrusting the hand into boiling

water:-- I have seen such men, as I have heard such words.

        2. 'Living in retirement to study their aims, and practicing righteousness to carry out

their principles:-- I have heard these words, but I have not seen such men.'

BOOK XVII

CHAP. VII.

        1. Pi Hsi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go.

        2. Tsze-lu said, 'Master, formerly I have heard you say, "When a man in his own person is

guilty of doing evil, a superior man will not associate with him." Pi Hsi is in rebellion, holding

possession of Chung-mau; if you go to him, what shall be said?'

        3. The Master said, 'Yes, I did use these words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be

really hard, it may be ground without being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really

white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black?

        4. 'Am I a bitter gourd! How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?'

BOOK XVII

CHAP. XXIV.

        1. Tsze-kung said, 'Has the superior man his hatreds also?' The Master said, 'He has his

hatreds. He hates those who proclaim the evil of others. He hates the man who, being in a low

station, slanders his superiors. He hates those who have valor merely, and are unobservant of

propriety. He hates those who are forward and determined, and, at the same time, of contracted

understanding.'

        2. The Master then inquired, 'Ts'ze, have you also your hatreds?' Tsze-kung replied, 'I hate

those who pry out matters, and ascribe the knowledge to their wisdom. I hate those who are only

not modest, and think that they are valorous. I hate those who make known secrets, and think that they are straightforward.'

BOOK XIX

CHAP. XX.

Tsze-kung said, 'Chau's wickedness was not so great as that name implies. Therefore, the superior man hates to dwell in a low-lying situation, where all the evil of the world will flow in upon him.'

About The Great Learning

Said to have been written by Confucius, The Great Learning is one of the cannonical Confucian works.

The Confucian scholar Chu Hsi (Zhu Xi) promoted The Four Books for the essential study of Confucianism:  The Analects, The Mencius, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean.

Below is a copy of The Great Learning, translated by James Legge.  A printable copy is available at this link.  Also, Daniel Gardner has a fine translation of The Great Learning in his work, The Four Books: The Basic Teachings of the Later Confucian Tradition. 

The Great Learning by Confucius
Translated by James Legge

[Section 1]

What the Great Learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.  The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.

Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.

[Section 2]

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate
their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated,
their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

[Section 3]

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.  It cannot be, when the root is neglected, that what should spring from it will be well ordered. It never has been the case that what was of great importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for.

(From “Confucian Analects, The Great Learning, & The Doctrine of the Mean,” Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-22746-4)

The Five Virtues

When you study Confucianism you will eventually run across references to the Five Virtues which are mentioned in Book XVII, Chapter VI, of the Analects of Confucius.  Here is that selection from the translation by James Legge, which is in the public domain.

Tsze-chang asked Confucius about perfect virtue.

Confucius said, 'To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven
constitutes perfect virtue.'

He begged to ask what they were, and was told, 'Gravity, generosity of
soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. If you are grave, you will not
be treated with disrespect. If you are generous, you will win all. If you
are sincere, people will repose trust in you. If you are earnest, you will
accomplish much. If you are kind, this will enable you to employ
the services of others.

So if you were to simply list the Five Virtues, you will see after some study that they vary by translator.  Here are the Five Virtues from four translators.

From James Legge

1. Gravity
2. Generosity
3. Sincerity
4. Earnestness
5. Kindness

From Xinzhong Yao

1. Respectfulness
2. Generosity
3. Faithfulness
4. Diligence
5. Liberality

From Wm. Theodore de Bary

1. Courtesy
2. Magnanimity
3. Trustworthiness
4. Diligence
5. Kindness

From Tu Wei-Ming

1. Propriety
2. Wisdom
3. Faithfulness
4. Righteousness
5. Humanity