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==Sincerity in Confucian societies==

==Sincerity in Confucian societies==

Sincerity is notably developed as a [[virtue]] in Confucian societies (China, Korea, and Japan). The [[concept]] of chéng (誠、诚) as expounded in two of the Confucian classics, the Da Xue and the Zhong Yong is generally translated as sincerity. As in the west, the term implies a congruence of avowal and inner feeling, but inner feeling is in turn ideally responsive to [[ritual]] propriety and social [[hierarchy]]. Specifically, Confucian's Analects contains the following statement in Chapter I: (主忠信。毋友不如己者。過，則勿憚改。) "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself (all friends would be as loyal as yourself). If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it."

Sincerity is notably developed as a [[virtue]] in Confucian societies (China, Korea, and Japan). The [[concept]] of chéng (誠、诚) as expounded in two of the Confucian classics, the Da Xue and the Zhong Yong is generally translated as sincerity. As in the west, the term implies a congruence of avowal and inner feeling, but inner feeling is in turn ideally responsive to [[ritual]] propriety and social [[hierarchy]]. Specifically, Confucian's Analects contains the following statement in Chapter I: "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself (all friends would be as loyal as yourself). If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it."

Thus, even today, a powerful leader will praise leaders of other realms as "sincere" to the extent that they know their place. In Japanese the character for cheng may be pronounced makoto, and carries still more strongly the sense of loyal avowal and [[belief]].

Thus, even today, a powerful leader will praise leaders of other realms as "sincere" to the extent that they know their place. In Japanese the character for cheng may be pronounced makoto, and carries still more strongly the sense of loyal avowal and [[belief]].

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] and most scholars state that sincerity from sincere is derived from the Latin sincerus meaning clean, [[pure]], sound (1525–35). Sincerus may have once meant "one growth" (not mixed), from sin- (one) and crescere (to grow). Crescere derives from "Ceres," the goddess of grain, as in "cereal."[3][4]

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] and most scholars state that sincerity from sincere is derived from the Latin sincerus meaning clean, [[pure]], sound (1525–35). Sincerus may have once meant "one growth" (not mixed), from sin- (one) and crescere (to grow). Crescere derives from "Ceres," the goddess of grain, as in "cereal."[3][4]