Decoding Yan Yuan's Inquiry on Benevolence——on the Doctrine of Benevolence in Regard to Benevolence-rites & Oneself-others Relationships

Yan Yuan's Inquiry on Benevolence included in the Analects of Confucius presents the proposition that self-restraint and restoration of rites are benevolence,the core of the doctrine of benevolence. Scholars have interpreted Confucius' thoughts from these three perspectives-self-restraint,restoration of rites and benevolence. But attention should be paid to benevolence-rites oneself-others relationships,by means of which,Confucius' thoughts on benevolence and his pursuit of unifying benevolence and rites,oneself and others can be analyzed. It is obvious that the rites Confucius tried to restore are no longer the hollow and formalized rites in the Western Zhou Dynasty,but new rites integrated with benevolence. In the relationship between oneself and others,Confucius emphasized benevolence,depending on oneself,highlighting one's own efforts. Confucianists' benevolence is realized by self-consciousness and self-conviction,characterized by the emphasis on subjectivity and practical reason.