Editing Virtue (section)

====Daoism====
{{see also|Three Treasures (Taoism)}}
"Virtue", translated from Chinese {{transliteration|zh|[[De (Chinese)|de]]}} ({{lang|zh|[[Wikt:德|德]]}}), is also an important concept in [[Chinese philosophy]], particularly [[Daoism]]. ''De'' ({{zh|c=德|p=''dé''| w=''te''}}) originally meant normative "virtue" in the sense of "personal character; inner strength; integrity", but semantically changed to moral "virtue; kindness; morality". Note the semantic parallel for English ''[[Wikt:virtue|virtue]]'', with an archaic meaning of "inner potency; divine power" (as in "by virtue of") and a modern one of "moral excellence; goodness".{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

In early periods of [[Confucianism]], moral manifestations of "virtue" include {{transliteration|zh|ren}} ("[[Human nature|humanity]]"), ''xiao'' ("[[filial piety]]"), and {{transliteration|zh|li}} ("[[Li (Confucian)|proper behavior, performance of rituals]]"). The notion of {{transliteration|zh|[[Confucianism#Humaneness|ren]]}} – according to Simon Leys – means "humanity" and "goodness". {{transliteration|zh|Ren}} originally had the archaic meaning in the Confucian Book of Poems of "virility", but progressively took on shades of ethical meaning.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1080/02549948.1974.11731098|jstor=40726170|author1-link=Lin Yu-sheng|author=Lin Yu-sheng|s2cid=170207315|title=The evolution of the pre-Confucian meaning of jen and the Confucian concept of moral autonomy|journal=Monumenta Serica|volume=31|year=1974–75|pages=172–204 }}</ref> Some scholars consider the virtues identified in early Confucianism as non-theistic philosophy.<ref name="autogenerated1971">{{cite book | last=Yang | first=C. K. | title=Religion in Chinese Society: a study of contemporary social functions of religion and some of their historical factors | publisher=University of California Press | date=1961 | isbn=978-0-88133-621-4 | page=}}</ref>

The Daoist concept of {{transliteration|zh|De}}, compared to Confucianism, is more subtle, pertaining to the "virtue" or ability that an individual realizes by following the {{transliteration|zh|[[Tao|Dao]]}} ("the Way"). One important normative value in much of Chinese thinking is that one's social status should result from the amount of virtue that one demonstrates, rather than from one's birth. In the ''[[Analects]]'', [[Confucius]] explains {{transliteration|zh|de}} as follows: "He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?no=17&l=Lunyu|url-status=dead|title=The Analects of Confucius: Lunyu II.1 (17)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005031/http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?no=17&l=Lunyu |archive-date=2007-09-27|translator-link=James Legge|translator-first=James|translator-last=Legge}}</ref> In later periods, particularly from the Tang dynasty period, Confucianism  absorbed and melded its own concepts of virtues with those from Daoism and Buddhism.<ref name="autogenerated1971"/>

There are symbols that represent virtue in Chinese Culture. Chinese classic paintings have many symbols representing virtue. Plum blossom represents resilience and perseverance. Orchid represents elegance, gentleness, and quietness. Bamboo represents loyalty, trust-worthiness, and humility. Chrysanthemum represents genuineness and simplicity.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}