Humanity Is To Love

Tung Chung-Shu, Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals

The quote above is from Tung Chung-Shu’s commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals by Confucius. Here’s another quote from his Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals commentary:

“The Spring and Autumn Annals examines the principles of things and rectifies their names. It applies names to things as they really are… Such is the care of the Sage to rectify names, he said, “With regard to his speech, the superior man does not take it lightly.” [Confucius (The Analects, 13:3)].

–Tung Chung-Shu [Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals].

Wing-Tsit Chan

What the Spring and Autumn Annals regulates are others and the self. The principles with which to regulate others and the self are humanity and righteousness. Humanity is to give others peace and security and righteousness is to regulate the self. Therefore the word “humanity” (jen) means others (people, jen) and the word “righteousness” means the self. The distinction is made in the terms themselves…. The principle of humanity consists in loving people and not in loving oneself, and the principle of righteousness consists in rectifying oneself and not in rectifying others. If one is not rectified himself, he cannot be considered righteous even if he can rectify others, and if one loves himself very much but does not apply his love to others, he cannot be considered humane…. What is meant by humanity? The man of humanity loves people with a sense of commiseration…. What is meant by wisdom? It is to speak first and then act accordingly. It is to weigh with one’s wisdom whether to act or not and then proceed accordingly…. [Tung Chung-Shu’s understanding of humanity (jen) as love is found in ancient philosophers such as Mo Tzu and Chuang Tzu. But for them it was one of several possible meanings, but in Tung Chung-Shu it is the meaning. This interpretation is characteristic of practically all Han Confucianists, and Tung was the first. (Comment paraphrased – akd.)]

–Wing-Tsit Chan [A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy] pp.285-287.