Confucian and Taoist Views
on Sexual Morality
Confucianism and
Contemporary Moral Issues
Chung M. Tse
Basic Moral Concepts
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Jen
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Benevolence and love
Class of virtues: wisdom, courage, confidence,
gravity, forgiveness, trustworthiness,
earnestness, kindness
The quality of moral perfection
Moral perfection: is, negatively, the quality
of having no moral deficiency, positively,
the ideal state of possessing all possible
moral virtues
Human nature - Mencius
A human being is the composite of the
elements of greater ti and lesser ti
 Lesser ti: the physical body with all its
attachments and derivatives
 Greater ti: the moral mind (hsin, jenmind)
“The mind is … a creatively active faculty for
originating moral precepts alone” (238)
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Ch’i
Confucian Cosmology
 Ch’I:
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accounts for the origin of evil
In the form of human body, it displays man’s
natural qualities and capacities (emotions,
senses, desires, temperament, instincts)
Evil begins when individuals follow their
dispositions of Ch’I to the extent that they
defy morality prescribed by the jen-mind
The ultimate judge of morality is the jenmind
 Man is a composite being of jen-mind
embodied in a configuration of Ch’I
 acts deriving from the jen-mind are good,
acts deriving from Ch’I can be morally
agreeable, indifferent, or evil
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Fundamental principles of Confucian
ethics
1.
2.
3.
Man must fully actualize the jen-mind activity in
his own person and help others to do so (duty)
and thus realize a world of Great Harmony
Man must respect his own person and that of
others, respect is the essence of humanity
The jen-mind is in a constant process of selfactualization, every individual is potentially
Heaven-in-particular. Thus, everything that
which might suppress, subvert, or destroy this
potential is forbidden
Confucian position on sexual morality
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Extended view of sexual act
Human sexual intercourse is for the purpose of
procreation
It is to be engaged by couples of opposite sex
who are bonded and are willing to take this
process to its fruition
The act of intercourse initiates many great
virtues of the cosmic jen-mind: caring, love,
intimacy, union, dynamic harmony, exchange of
vital energy, joyful consummation, and creativity
Deviation form the norm
Incest and bestiality
 Rape and child molestation
 Homosexuality
 Premarital sex
 Extramarital sex
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The Taoist View of Sex
Geoffrey Parrinder
What is the Taoist view of celibacy and
sexual abstinence?
 What sort of explanation do Taoists give
for their view?
 Why was this view opposed by Confucians
and Buddhists?
 What are some of the features of the
Taoists view of male-female relationship,
marriage, and sexual activity that conflict
with the Confucian view described by Tse?
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Main concepts
Taoist symbolism and metaphorical
expression of sexual intercourse
 Yin and Yang
 The Tao
 Rich sexual symbolism in Taoist
philosophy

Human sexual activity as essential
associated with the balancing of principles
necessary for human health, strength, and
longevity
 Cultivation of sexual energy, mutual
exchange of yin and yang essences
 Sexual intercourse: increase vigor and
bring long life
 Two purposes: procreation and the
increase of male energy
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