信
Xin
Confucianism · conceptTrustworthiness, integrity, faithfulness. The Confucian virtue of being true to one's word and reliable in word and deed. Xin is essential for healthy relationships, stable governance, and social harmony. In Confucian thought, trustworthiness is the foundation of stable relationships and good governance. Xin makes all other virtues reliable and socially effective.
人而无信，不知其可也。
— Analects, Book 2, Chapter 22 (Confucius)
What Are the Key Facts About Xin?
- Tradition: Confucianism
- Chinese: 信
- Category: Concept
- Definition: Trustworthiness, integrity, faithfulness.
What Concepts Are Related to Xin?
Ren 仁What Other Guides Cover Confucianism?
Frequently Asked Questions About Xin
What does xin mean in Chinese philosophy?
Xin (心) is 'heart-mind' — in Chinese thought the single organ of both feeling and cognition, not split into emotion vs. reason as in the West.
What did Mencius say about xin?
Mencius treats xin as the seat of the moral sprouts and of 'conscience' (liangzhi) and 'natural ability' (liangneng); it can be 'lost' through neglecting cultivation and 'found' again.
How does xin relate to the four sprouts?
The four sprouts (commiseration, etc.) are dispositions of the xin; Mencius' famous image is the xin 'lost like a strayed sheep' that one must seek and recover.
Is xin the same as mind?
Not exactly: it encompasses what English splits into heart and mind. In Confucianism it is where virtue is known and felt; in Buddhism/Daoism it is the object of stilling and emptying.