The rectification of names (Chinese: 正名; pinyin: Zhèngmíng; Wade–Giles: Cheng-ming) is originally a doctrine of feudal Confucian designations and relationships, behaving accordingly to ensure social harmony.[1] Without such accordance society would essentially crumble and "undertakings would not be completed."[2] Mencius extended the doctrine to include questions of political legitimacy.[3]
When Confucius was asked what he would do if he was a governor, he said he would "rectify the names" to make words correspond to reality.
- ^ Oldstone-Moore, Jennifer (2002). Confucianism. New York: Oxford University Press, Incorporated. pp. 54–60.
- ^ Taylor, Rodney L.; Choy, Howard (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Confucianism. Vol. 1 (1 ed.). New York: The Rosen Group, Incorporated. pp. 48–50.
- ^ Eno, R. "Legalism and Huang-Lao Thought" (PDF). Indiana University.