cheng confucian sincerity meaning

Key Takeaway: Cheng (诚) is a central Confucian virtue meaning sincerity, truthfulness, or authenticity.

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.

As Confucius taught in the Analects and as the Confucian tradition of virtue and self-cultivation holds, Cheng (诚) is a central Confucian virtue meaning sincerity, truthfulness, or authenticity.

— Oriens