Editing Confucianism (section)

===''Junzi''===
{{Main|Junzi}}
The ''junzi'' ('lord's son') is a [[Chinese philosophy|Chinese philosophical]] term often translated as "[[gentleman]]" or "superior person"<ref>Sometimes "exemplary person." Roger T. Ames and Henry Rosemont, Jr., ''The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation''. Paul Goldin translates it "noble man" in an attempt to capture both its early political and later moral meaning. Cf. "[http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/kurtis.hagen/keyterms_junzi.html Confucian Key Terms: Junzi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520073016/http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/kurtis.hagen/keyterms_junzi.html |date=20 May 2014 }}."</ref> and employed by [[Confucius]] in the ''Analects'' to describe the ideal man.

In Confucianism, the sage or wise is the ideal personality; however, it is very hard to become one of them. Confucius created the model of ''junzi'', gentleman, which may be achieved by any individual. Later, [[Zhu Xi]] defined ''junzi'' as second only to the sage. There are many characteristics of the ''junzi'': he may live in poverty, he does more and speaks less, he is loyal, obedient and knowledgeable. The ''junzi'' disciplines himself. ''Ren'' is fundamental to become a ''junzi''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yang Tianshi (杨天石) |date=2005 |title=君子 – 儒学的理想人格 |url=http://jds.cass.cn/Item/1390.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418015158/http://jds.cass.cn/Item/1390.aspx |archive-date=18 April 2015 |language=zh}}</ref>

As the potential leader of a nation, a son of the ruler is raised to have a superior ethical and moral position while gaining inner peace through his virtue. To Confucius, the ''junzi'' sustained the functions of government and social stratification through his ethical values. Despite its literal meaning, any righteous man willing to improve himself may become a ''junzi''.

In contrast to the ''junzi'', the ''xiaoren'' ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=小人|p=xiăorén}}, "small or petty person") does not grasp the value of virtues and seeks only immediate gains. The petty person is [[egotistic]] and does not consider the consequences of his action in the overall scheme of things. Should the ruler be surrounded by ''xiaoren'' as opposed to ''junzi'', his governance and his people will suffer due to their small-mindness. Examples of such ''xiaoren'' individuals may range from those who continually indulge in sensual and emotional pleasures all day to the politician who is interested merely in power and fame; neither sincerely aims for the long-term benefit of others.

The ''junzi'' enforces his rule over his subjects by acting virtuously himself. It is thought that his pure virtue would lead others to follow his example. The ultimate goal is that the government behaves much like a family, the ''junzi'' being a beacon of filial piety.