Ren (philosophy)

Ren is exemplified by functional, instinctual, parental feelings and intentions of encouragement and protection for their children.

Yan Hui, one of the Four Sages, once asked his master to describe the rules of ren.

Pre-imperial epigraphic sources testify to alternative writings of the same character: 忎 (given as a variant of 仁 in the Shuowen dictionary), 身 with 心 below (⿱身心), and the latter compound with 人 on the right.

It represents an inner development towards an altruistic goal, while simultaneously realizing that one is never alone, and that everyone has these relationships to fall back on, being a member of a family, the state, the world, and ultimately the Tao.

Confucius believed that the key to long-lasting integrity was to constantly think, since[non sequitur] the world is continually changing at a rapid pace.

Confucianism says that if the ruler lacks ren, it will be difficult for his subjects to behave humanely.

Ren is the basis of Confucian political theory; the ruler is exhorted to refrain from acting inhumanely towards his subjects.

An inhumane ruler runs the risk of losing the Mandate of Heaven or, in other words, the right to rule.

A ruler lacking such a mandate need not be obeyed, but a ruler who reigns humanely and takes care of the people will be entrusted by Heaven and trust by the people therefore follows, for the benevolence of his dominion shows that he has been mandated (ming 命) by heaven.