三纲五常

三綱五常

sāngāng-wǔcháng

idiom

Meanings

1 the three bonds and five constants
2 the core ethical code of imperial Confucianism

Characters

guiding principle, bond

constant, principle

Examples

三纲五常是儒家伦理的核心。

Sāngāng-wǔcháng shì Rújiā lúnlǐ de héxīn.

The three bonds and five constants are the core of Confucian ethics.

新文化运动激烈批判三纲五常。

Xīn Wénhuà Yùndòng jīliè pīpàn sāngāng-wǔcháng.

The New Culture Movement fiercely criticized the three bonds and five constants.

Tips

history

Per 《新华成语词典》, derived from 《白虎通·三纲六纪》 (Eastern Han) and 王充's 《论衡》. The 三纲 ('three bonds'): 君为臣纲 (ruler-subject), 父为子纲 (father-son), 夫为妻纲 (husband-wife). The 五常 ('five constants'): 仁 benevolence, 义 righteousness, 礼 propriety, 智 wisdom, 信 faithfulness. Fixed by 董仲舒 in the Han, these defined the moral software of imperial China for two millennia.

Stroke Order

三 sān

纲 gāng

五 wǔ

常 cháng