Mencius proposed the Five Cardinal Relationships (五伦) during the Warring States period. They are the basis of Confucian Liand the most fundamental ethical relationship in Confucian doctrine.
Ethics, or human ethics, is the moral relationship between people. The Five Ethical Relationships refer to the five types of human relationships in ancient China and the rules of speech and behaviors that should be followed. These relationships refer to that between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, brothers and friends.
According to historical sources, the concept of human ethics was elaborated in The Book of Documents, The Spring and Autumn Annals, and Confucius’s teachings. The book Mengzi: Teng Wengong I (孟子·滕文公上) formally introduced the term “Human Ethics” (人伦).
In this book, Mencius systematically compiles and summarises traditional Chinese ethical and moral norms and comprehensively outlines the five fundamental moral relationships between people in feudal society.
Mencius clarifies these five relationships, emphasizing each party’s roles and responsibilities and the “rules” that should be followed.
Relationship between father and son
Paternity is the relationship between a father and his children.
Firstly, a father in the father-son relationship is endowed with qualities of love. As a family’s breadwinner, the father should exemplify unending love and care for their children.
Accordingly, the son should demonstrate filial piety. Filial piety is not only material provision but also a kind of inner worship.
A son should take timely care of his father’s physical and mental health and do his best to meet his legitimate needs. Especially when his father is old and infirm, a son should repay his father’s kindness with care.
In the Spring and Autumn with Zuo Zhuan (春秋左传), “affectionate father and dutiful son” (父慈子孝) are also included in the value of Li.
Relationship between Ruler and Subject
Mencius advocates the principle of “keeping righteousness between the ruler and the subjects” (君臣有义) to establish and maintain positive relationships between rulers and subjects.
Subjects should be faithful to their duties. Rulers must treat subjects according to Li.
The ruler and the subjects should support each other and work together to ensure the country’s prosperity and people’s well-being.
Besides, Mencius also mentions in Mencius that: “If the ruler treats his subjects as his brothers, they will treat him with heartfelt sincerity; if the ruler treats his subjects as a dog or a horse, they will treat him as a stranger; if the ruler treats his subjects as dirt or grass, they will treat him as an enemy.”
Thus, the monarch’s attitude toward his subjects determines the subjects’ reaction to the monarch.
Relationship between Husband and Wife
The relationship between husband and wife features their different responsibilities and complementary roles in the family.
On the one hand, a husband must care for his wife, educate his children, respect his parents, and be responsible for society. A wife should be responsible for their husband and children to free them from worries.
On the other hand, They have different priorities in matters within and outside the family. The husband and the wife should complement, help, respect, and love each other. Wives should understand, honor, and help their husbands, while husbands should understand and respect their wives.
In short, couples should treat each other courteously and face challenges and difficulties together.
Relationship between Brothers
When Confucius explained filial piety, he stressed the love between brothers. It coincides with Mencius’ advocacy of respect for seniority, brotherhood, and friendship.
Standards for Being a Good Student and Child (弟子规) says, “Whether you are drinking, eating, walking or sitting, let elders go first; younger ones should follow.”. It is a concrete practice of this rule.
The older brother should set an example by caring for his younger brother and helping him become moral and responsible.
At the same time, the younger brother should respect the older brothers and listen to their advice.
This relationship of mutual respect, love, and help between brothers contributes to a harmonious and united family.
Relationship between Friends
Friends are supposed to trust each other as a social group without blood ties.
Mencius once said, “Friends should trust each other. It means that friends should trust and support each other and deliver their promises.
Friends should help each other in times of trouble, share joy in times of happiness, and go through the ups and downs of life together. In this way, friendship can be enhanced when people feel warm and happy when dealing with each other.
Confucius once said, “A person who gains no trust from others doesn’t know how to stand up in society.” Trust is the most precious bond between people and an indispensable element of friendship.
Meanings of Five Cardinal Relationships
The “Five Cardinal Relationships” are the most fundamental of Confucianism’s ethical concepts. They are the starting point of the moral system, the main line of human social relations, and the fundamental guarantee for the survival and inheritance of good social customs.
The five ethical principles guide the behaviors of individuals and social groups. They also clarify the responsibilities of different parties, thus forming the moral code of traditional Chinese society.
From the time of their proposition to the subsequent two thousand years, the five Confucian virtues have played a vital role in the development of Chinese culture, profoundly influencing the primary direction, values, and spirituality of Chinese civilization.