본문 바로가기
  • Home

A Comparison between Mencius’ jenyi(仁義) and mišpāt uşedeq in the Hebrew Bible

Myung Soo Suh 1

1협성대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Confucius and Mencius’ influences have been great in the sphere of Confucian cultures. It is generally said that Confucian and Mencius' thought can be respectively integrated into jen(仁)and jenyi(仁義). Confucian jen reflects an existential aspect to reach the noble spirit and internal supremacy. Mencius added yi(義) which reflects a practical aspect to Confucian jen. Based on Confucian jen Mencius put grave emphasis on yi, which provides the principle of social activity. These jen and yi can be respectively compared with <ḥesed> and <mišpāṭ uṣedeq>. Just as yi is based on jen, <mišpāṭ uṣedeq> is based on <ḥesed>. However, in spite of the similarity between jen and <ḥesed>, jenyi and <mišpāṭ uṣedeq>, it must not be ignored that there is difference between them. That is, on the other hand two masters' thought presupposes that human nature is good, <ḥesed> and <mišpāṭ uṣedeq> presuppose relative goodness between Yahweh and Israel. Thus it is expectant that an effort for integrity of hermeneutic horizon and structural recognition may offer a wide and deep field of meaning.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.