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The Chinese Classic of Family ReverenceA Philosophical Translation of the Xiaojing$
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The Chinese Classic of Family Reverence: A Philosophical Translation of the Xiaojing

Henry Jr. Rosemont and Roger T. Ames

Print publication date: 2008

Print ISBN-13: 9780824832841

Published to Hawaii Scholarship Online: November 2016

DOI: 10.21313/hawaii/9780824832841.001.0001

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On Remonstrance (jian) 《諫諍章》‎

On Remonstrance (jian) 《諫諍章》‎

Chapter:
Chapter 15. On Remonstrance (jian) 《諫諍章》‎
Source:
The Chinese Classic of Family Reverence
Author(s):

Henry Rosemont

Roger T. Ames

Publisher:
University of Hawai'i Press
DOI:10.21313/hawaii/9780824832841.003.0015

In this chapter, Confucius is explaining to Master Zeng the essence of remonstrance, or jian. When Master Zeng asks whether children can be deemed filial simply by obeying every command of their fathers, Confucius answers: “What on earth are you saying? Of old, an Emperor had seven ministers who would remonstrate with him, so even if he had no vision of the proper way (dao), he still did not lose the empire. The high nobles had five ministers who would remonstrate with them, so even if they had no vision of the dao, they still did not lose their states.” According to Confucius, a son who is confronted by his father’s reprehensible behavior has no choice but to remonstrate with him, and a minister who is confronted by his ruler’s reprehensible behavior has no choice but to remonstrate with that ruler. Hence, remonstrance is the only response to immorality.

Keywords:   dao, Confucius, Master Zeng, remonstrance, jian, children, ministers, fathers, immorality

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