Xin (Chinese: 信; English: integrity, faithfulness, trustworthiness, sincerity) is not only one of the key elements for Confucianism to achieve Ren (仁) but also an indispensable part of its moral system.
For Confucian scholars, Xin also plays a vital role in regulating social relations and maintaining social order.
Especially, Xin played a crucial role in conflicts between different classes in feudal China. It requires people to strictly follow the norms of Li (礼) and pursue consistency between words and deeds.
This emphasis on and promotion of Xin has helped it earn a central place in the Confucian philosophy of governance.
Confucius on Xin
Confucius’s opinions about Xin can be divided into two aspects.
On the one hand, Xin’s edifying effect empowers Junzi (君子) to cultivate an ideal personality. On the other hand, he expresses his way of ruling the world through Xin.
Firstly, as for self-cultivation:
Xin means being honest and honoring your commitments.
According to Confucius, Xin is the foundation of a person’s life.
The Analects of Confucius record a vital idea of Confucius: “People without faith don’t know what to do.” He also believed that Xin was necessary for the noble character of Junzi.
For Confucius, Xin is also an ethical code for human relationships. He believed that there must be Xin between friends and that this is a way to make friends.
He also strived to win the trust of his friends.
Secondly, about governance:
For Confucius, Xin is also a way to build and govern a country and an essential asset for maintaining social stability.
If people lose trust in the ruler, the state will suffer. Therefore, the ruler’s establishment of Xin among the people is a prerequisite for the stability and prosperity of the state.
Mencius on Xin
On the one hand, Mencius inherited the idea of Xin from Confucius.
He deemed “friends having integrity” as one of the Five Cardinal Relationships of Confucianism.
He also affirmed the role of Xin in politics. A harmonious and stable society can be formed if people develop good moral qualities like honesty, filial piety, and loyalty. When a country faces external threats, its people can be united to combat potential risks.
On the other hand, Mencius also had a unique understanding of Xin.
Confucius said, “To be a man, one must be consistent in words and deeds.”
However, Mencius delivered a more flexible understanding of Xin. He believed that keeping one’s word was not set in stone but adaptable.
While maintaining Xin, an individual should also know how to make appropriate adjustments in a given situation to avoid wrongdoing.
Mencius’s concept of Xin further supports his idea of benevolent government, which aims to maintain the order and unity of feudal society.
Xunzi on Xin
As a renowned representative of Confucianism, Xunzi made integral additions to the concept of Xin.
Confucius regarded Xin as one of the key elements in forming an ideal personality. Mencius stressed the importance of Xin for rulers’ implementation of “benevolent governance.”
Xunzi’s notion of Xin stems from his theory that “human nature is evil.” He argued that individuals must cultivate Xin through education because human nature is inherently evil.
Secondly, he also used Xin as a criterion to distinguish Junzi from Xiaoren (小人).
The book Xunzi states, “Villains who try their best to do absurd things but still want others to believe in them, and gentlemen are honest with others and willing to be trusted.”
At the same time, according to Xunzi, teamwork is the basis for individual development, and mutual trust is a core value.
In addition, Xunzi emphasized that rulers’ quality of Xin is key to a nation’s rise and fall.
He argued that an emperor should regard Li and Yi (义) as the cornerstones of governing a country. Coupled with Xin, he could dominate a country. If he relied on power and tactics, the country would be destroyed.
Xunzi said, “In ancient times, Xia Yu (夏禹) and Shang Tang (商汤) worked hard to maintain their promises and achieved effective governance in the world; Xia Jie (夏桀) and Shang Zhou (商纣王) abandoned morality and lacked credibility, resulting in chaos throughout the world.”
Therefore, when rulers demonstrate the virtue of Xin, people will be more obedient and respect their rule. In this way, Xin becomes a social norm, thus contributing to the country’s development.
In short, although Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi had different understandings and expressions of Xin, they all attached great importance to this virtue. This emphasis on and respect for it still have far-reaching implications for our society today.