Is face the same as li?
53
also that true friends must criticize each other and so help each other to progress in the cultivation of virtue, and a friendship breaks up when one party repeatedly refuses to heed the other's criticisms." In the consideration of face, this is a most hazardous undertaking, involving mutual loss of face. In the matter of self-criticism, the contrast between face and li is even sharper. Face requires one to hide one's errors, and the admission of an error is an ordeal. Li demands self-criticism on a regular basis—Tsang Tzu was supposed to review his conduct three times a day12—and not hiding one's errors. The remiss of the superior man, the Analects tells us, is like the eclipse of the sun or the moon—everyone can see it;13 by contrast, "The small man never fails to gloss over his faults."14
On the same principle, Confucius teaches that the superior man is not afraid of asking questions (thereby showing his ignorance) even of his inferiors;15 and to say “I know" when one does know, and "I do not know" when one does not know, is truly (the way to) knowing."16 The Master exemplified this by asking questions about everything when he visited the ancestral temple on one occasion. 'Doesn't this man who is a native of the land know anything about li (i.e., the rituals)?' those in the temple jeered. When Confucius heard about it, he answered, 'But isn't it exactly li (to ask questions)?' The idea is, just as to achieve real greatness one must not be afraid to see one's faults and try to correct them,18 to achieve real knowledge one must not be afraid to admit and thus make it possible to remedy one's ignorance. It is quite clear that in following the Master's advice one may be constantly losing face.
Face is a Subterfuge of Li
If li and face are not identical, then how are they related? Let me start by explaining the resemblance between face and li which might have given rise to the misconception that they are one and the same. Firstly, both of them provide great details as to recommended external conduct, including actions which are open to public view or potentially open to public view. Face is exclusively concerned with what is open to public view or very likely to be open to public view. It is a mistake to think that li is also so exclusively concerned, or even mainly so concerned. Secondly, both face and li aim at the regulation of interpersonal relations and social transactions, to ensure harmony, smoothness and to avoid conflict.
IS FACE THE SAME AS LI?
53
also that true friends must criticize each other and so help each other to progress in the cultivation of virtue, and a friendship breaks up when one party repeatedly refuses to heed the other's criticisms." In the consideration of face, this is a most hazardous undertaking, involving mutual loss of face. In the matter of self- criticism, the contrast between face and li is even sharper. Face requires one to hide one's errors, and the admission of an error is an ordeal. Li demands self-criticism on a regular basis-Tsang Tzu was supposed to review his conduct three times a day12 — and not hiding one's errors. The remiss of the superior man, the Analects tells us, is like the eclipse of the sun or the moon- everyone can see it;13 by contrast, "The small man never fails to gloss over his faults',14
On the same principle, Confucius teaches that the superior man is not afraid of asking questions (thereby showing his ignorance) even of his inferiors;15 and to say “I know" when one does know, and "I do not know" when one does not know, is truly (the way to) knowing',16 The Master exemplified this by asking questions about everything when he visisted the ancestral temple on one occasion. 'Doesn't this man who is a native of the land know anything about li (ie. the rituals)?' those in the temple jeered. When Confucius heard about it, he answered, 'But isn't it exactly li (to ask ques- tions)?' The idea is, just as to achieve real greatness one must not be afraid to see one's faults and try to correct them,18 to achieve real knowledge one must not be afraid to admit and thus makes it possible to remedy one's ignorance. It is quite clear that in follow- ing the Master's advice one may be constantly losing face.
Face is a Subterfuge of Li
If li and face are not identical, then how are they related? Let me start by explaining the resemblance between face and li which might have given rise to the misconception that they are one and the same. Firstly, both of them provide great details as to recom- mended external conduct, including actions which are open to public view or potentially open to public view. Face is exclusively con- cerned with what is open to public view or very likely to be open to public view. It is a mistake to think that li is also so exclusively concerned, or even mainly so concerned. Secondly, both face and li aim at the regulation of interpersonal relations and social tran- sactions, to ensure harmony, smoothness and to avoid conflict.
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