How to Unite Universal Love with Particular Love——A Focus on Song Ming Neo-Confucianist Theory of Humanity and Righteousness

Both Confucius and Mencius initiated an ethical theory of humanity (ren) and righteousness (yi). The nature of humanity was aiming at a kind of universal love, and the implication of righteousness was aiming at humanity and also a regulation of humanity. The principle of righteousness found expression in the graded particular love embraced in universal love. Neo-Confucianism succeeded and developed original Confucianism’s theory of humanity and righteousness, and especially provided a set of ontological proof through its theory of all things as and one as multiplicity. The opposition and unity of humanity and righteousness reflects the opposition and unity of Confucian ethical universality and particularity. This also conforms to the real life world.