Propriety, Righteousness, Integrity, and Shame

Propriety, Righteousness, Integrity, and Shame

Propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, of the Eight Virtues of traditional Chinese culture, are categorized as political and social ethics. They were first introduced in the book Guan Zi as four moral bonds to sustain a nation, like four cultural pillars. Among them, propriety refers to a set of social norms and moral rules used to adjust interpersonal relations and maintain social order. It not only stresses many specific rites and rituals, but also cultivates reverence for them. Righteousness means acting upright when making decisions and choices, refraining from seeking self-interests, and taking on collective and public responsibilities. Integrity means restraining selfish desires and covetous thoughts, refusing to take property that does not belong to oneself, and avoiding bribery and corruption. It is usually considered a basic political virtue. Shame refers to a sense of guilt when one realizes that one's actions have violated commonly accepted morals and involves conscious self-examination and correction of one's mistakes in an attempt to seek moral enlightenment. Accusing someone of being shameless is considered sharp criticism.

The Eight Virtues address interpersonal relationship as well as the relationship between people and society. An integral facet of the Chinese cultural values, they are handed down from generation to generation, unconsciously shaping Chinese outlooks on life.

礼义廉耻

“礼义廉耻”是中国传统“八德”的重要内容，属于政治和社会伦理范畴。出自《管子·牧民》的“礼义廉耻，国之四维”，指“礼”“义”“廉”“耻”是维系一个国家的四项重要道德原则，就像四根精神支柱。其中，“礼”是调节人际关系、维护社会秩序的行为准则和道德规范，不仅包括大量具体的礼制，更强调培养人们遵循礼的内在恭敬之心；“义”指面对是非善恶要坚持正确的判断，作出合理的选择，特别是要超越个人的一己私利，多承担集体或公共的责任；“廉”指克制自己的私欲和贪念，不占有或收取不属于自己的财物，避免贪污腐败，这通常被认为是对官员政德的基本要求；“耻”就是保持羞恶之心，如果做了违背道德原则的事，就会感到羞愧，要反躬自省、改过迁善，实现自我道德约束。说一个人轻薄无礼、无情无义、寡廉鲜耻，对他是一种很严厉的批评。

孝悌忠信、礼义廉耻探讨了人与人、人与社会的关系。这些道德观念代代相传，成为中国人价值体系的重要组成部分，潜移默化地影响和塑造着中华民族的精神气质。