Through the interpretation of the four different meanings of"zhi"in The Analects,it can be understood that"zhi"primarily embodies a fundamental aspect of human nature.Confucius'understanding of"zhi"is dialectical,as clearly demonstrated in his discussions on"father-son concealment"and"repaying resentment with upright dealing.""Zhi"does not consist of stubbornly clinging to one's own opinions or putting on a false facade for external recognition;rather,it is a moral intuition that arises from deep recognition of ethical communal living experiences and continuous cultivation.The moral intuition represented by"zhi,"when applied in different moral contexts,manifests as spontaneous,genuine behavior without any pretense.This quality of genuineness aligns with the discussion on"cheng"in The Doctrine of the Mean.On the level of personal cultivation,"zhi"is not only an objective to strive for through prudence-sincerity cultivation but also an inevitable state resulting from sincerity to prudence.Confucius'demonstration of"zhi"shows the practical wisdom that points towards the realm of being attuned to timely appropriateness.
zhifather-son concealmentrepaying resentment with upright dealingmoral intuitioncheng
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