诚
Cheng (Sincerity)
Confucianism ·Cheng (诚) is a central Confucian virtue meaning sincerity, truthfulness, or authenticity. In the Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong), cheng is described as the Way of Heaven — the principle that makes all things real and complete. For the noble person, cultivating cheng is the foundation of all moral development and the key to harmonizing inner nature with the cosmic order.
Chéng
What Are the Key Facts About Cheng (Sincerity)?
- Tradition: Confucianism
- Chinese: 诚
- Category:
- Definition: Cheng (诚) is a central Confucian virtue meaning sincerity, truthfulness, or authenticity.
What Concepts Are Related to Cheng (Sincerity)?
Doctrine of the Mean 中庸What Other Guides Cover Confucianism?
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheng (Sincerity)
What is cheng in Confucianism?
Cheng (诚) is 'sincerity,' 'wholeness,' or 'truthfulness' — being fully and wholly oneself in alignment with heaven, a central virtue in the Doctrine of the Mean.
What does the Zhongyong say about cheng?
Cheng is the way of Heaven; to think in terms of cheng is the way of humanity.' The sincere person unifies inward and outward and can 'assist the transforming powers of Heaven and Earth.'
How is cheng different from ren?
Ren is humane relation to others; cheng is the inner integrity that makes ren authentic — wholehearted genuineness rather than mere outward propriety.
Did Neo-Confucians emphasize cheng?
Yes; Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi treated cheng as the concentrated, unified state of the mind where heavenly principle (li) is manifest.