Yì

Yì are essentially a set of qualities that make someone righteous. It's the idea that you should act right, even if the idea of 'right' doesn't directly benefit you or causes society to turn against you. It's all about acting ethically, even if it's against rules. A good example of following through with Yì is refusing to take a bribe, because even if it's good for you it's inherently unethical.

Priority

If one feels that a ritual is unjust, Yì overrides the ritual. You could think of it like this: In China, families often mourn losses for periods of time where they pray for their loved ones every week. Confucius praised a man who broke this ritual to save his sister from drowning.

The Foolish Old Man

An ancient Chinese legend describes an eldery man who lived in the north of China. He lived around two giant mountains that made travel significantly harder. To make travel faster for others, he started digging through the mountains so others could pass through easier. Everyone who caught wind of this called him a fool for trying to take on such an imposible project by himself, but he basically said that once he passed, his children (and grandchildren) would continue in his name until the mountains were gone.

Wángdào

Wángdào, or simply Kingly Rule, is an idea thought up by later Confucian thinker Mencius. He believed that any ruler should win the hearts of people by governing kindly, meeting the needs of the people and use virtue in rule. According to Mencius, Heaven supported moral rulers. A way to see if Heaven supported a ruler was if the people approved. An evil king in the eyes of Mencius is no king, but a tyrant undeserving of rule.

Zhōng

Zhōng or loyalty ties in with Wángdào. It's a mix of devotion and reflection (of others). To be loyal means to be consistent and following through with your values. Zhōng doesn't mean you should be blindly loyal. When a king is unjust, one should advise against mistakes instead of blindly following through with orders. It applies to everyone close to you, not just leaders (specific for government advisors).

Jūnzǐ

Junzi is, in simple terms, the embodiment of a ideal person everyone should strive to be. The title of Junzi is earned, defined by one's moral character and their actions. Core traits include leading moral example and follow the Five Constants.

Virtue

Junzi should never act out in selfishness nor be forceful. As Confucius said, "The noble person is calm and at ease; the petty person is anxious and fearful". Junzi should also be humble and avoid arrogance. Humility is achieved through one's actions, not their status.

Cultivation

No person is born perfect, "The Junzi is not a utensil". Junzi are adaptable and not constricted to a single role. They also hold the Five Constants true to themselves, but most of all Yi, all actions described above also applying to Junzi.