“Li” as Ideal Patterns of Culture in Chinese Tradition

“Li” as Ideal Patterns of Culture in Chinese Tradition

Until the May Fourth Movement arisen in 1919 (Chow, 1960), the ''li''* was traditionally considered in a broader sense as the essence of the ways of men, unique standards of conduct, or accepted codes of socio-political as well as ethico-moral order, which were cultivated for living and existed ever since ancient times, as potential guides for human behavior. They were essentially concerned with the characterization of culture now variously termed by social scientists in an attempt to bring out facets of total-culture analysis as master-ideas, themes, premises, etc. (when cognitively considered); as values, value attitudes, interests, etc. (when affectively considered); as ideals, orientations, sanctions, etc. (when conatively considered), and as configurations, integrating factors, socio-psychological constellations, etc. (when otherwise considered).