Editing Wisdom (section)

====In Confucian thought====
{{main|Confucianism}}
[[File:Confucius, fresco from a Western Han tomb of Dongping County, Shandong province, China.jpg|thumb|[[Confucius]] in a fresco from a [[Western Han]] tomb in [[Dongping County|Dongping]], [[Shandong]]]]

In Confucian thought, wisdom (''[[Mencius (book)#Content|zhi]]'', 智) is closely linked to ethical living and social harmony. [[Confucius]] (551–479 BCE) taught that wisdom is not merely intelligence but the ability to act virtuously in relationships and governance.<ref>{{cite book |last=Confucius |title=The Analects |orig-year=5th century BCE |year=2003 |publisher=Penguin Classics}}</ref> It involves self-cultivation, learning from the past, and practicing benevolence (''[[Ren (philosophy)|ren]]'', 仁), which Confucius regarded as a foundational virtue.<ref name="auto"/>

Wisdom in Confucianism is practical and moral, requiring individuals to cultivate righteousness (''yi'', 義) and ritual propriety (''li'', 禮) in order to contribute to a stable society.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chan |first=Wing-Tsit |title=A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy |orig-year=1963 |year=2009 |publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref> The ideal wise person, or "superior person" (''junzi'', 君子), embodies wisdom by continuously refining their character and aligning their actions with ethical principles.<ref>{{cite book |last=Slingerland |first=Edward |title=Effortless Action: Wu-wei as Conceptual Metaphor and Spiritual Ideal in Early China |year=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

Later Confucian thinkers expanded on this concept. [[Mencius]] (372–289 BCE) emphasized compassion and moral intuition as sources of wisdom, arguing that humans are naturally inclined toward goodness but must develop wisdom through education and reflection.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mencius |title=Mencius |orig-year=4th century BCE |year=2004 |publisher=Penguin Classics}}</ref> [[Xunzi (philosopher)|Xunzi]] (c. 310–235 BCE), by contrast, saw wisdom as the product of strict discipline and adherence to ritual, believing that human nature is inherently flawed and must be shaped through deliberate effort.<ref>{{cite book |last=Xunzi |title=Xunzi: The Complete Text |orig-year=3rd century BCE |year=2014 |publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref>

The Confucian approach to wisdom remains influential in [[East Asia]]n ethics, education, and leadership philosophy, continuing to shape modern discussions on morality and governance.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tu |first=Wei-ming |title=Confucian Thought: Selfhood as Creative Transformation |orig-year=1985 |year=1998 |publisher=State University of New York Press}}</ref>