In Chinese philosophy, yi (simplified Chinese: 义; traditional Chinese: 義; pinyin: yì) refers to righteousness, justice, morality, and meaning.
In Confucianism, yi involves a moral disposition to do good, and also the intuition and sensibility to do so competently.
[1][2] Yi represents moral acumen which goes beyond simple rule following, involving a balanced understanding of a situation, and the "creative insight" and decision-generating ability necessary to apply virtues properly and appropriately in a situation with no loss of sight of the total good.
[2] Yi resonates with Confucian philosophy's orientation towards the cultivation of benevolence (ren) and ritual propriety (li).
In application, yi is a "complex principle" which includes:[2] The Zhuangzi discusses the relationship between yi (righteousness) and de (virtue).