Li in Confucianism: An Interpretive Framework of Cultural Grammar
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Abstract
This article aims to analyze the meaning and role of the concept of Li (ritual propriety) in Confucian philosophy, with a particular focus on the development of Li from its religious origins to its transformation into a set of social norms within the context of ancient Chinese society. The study explores the philosophical relationship between Li and Ren (humaneness), proposing that ethical ritual practice must be grounded in Ren, which serves as the moral center guiding individual intention. Furthermore, the article examines Chenyang Li’s contemporary interpretation, which characterizes Li as a form of “cultural grammar” that structurally shapes human behavior and personality through patterned learning and repeated practice. The central argument of this article is that Li should be understood as an internal ethical mechanism that promotes the full development of human personhood and serves as a fundamental factor in sustaining social order and harmony.
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