“When we choose one character, learn its meaning, and carefully paint it with brush and ink (or even marker, if brush is not possible). In doing so, they embody the principle — not only in mind, but in hand and heart.

This is harmony between thought and form. When students hold the brush with reverence, they are already practicing serenity.” —Confucius

The —the famous circle divided into black and white with a dot of each in the other—is called the (太极图).

• The of yin and yang (opposites in balance: dark/light, female/male, passive/active, moon/sun) predates Daoism. It appeared in early Chinese cosmology and philosophy, especially during the (around 1000–500 BCE).

• Lao Tzu (Daoism) and Confucius (Confucianism) both lived in this same era and drew upon these ideas. Lao Tzu’s often reflects the yin–yang worldview (soft overcoming hard, yielding over strength, light/dark interdependence), but he did not invent it.

• The (the circular taijitu we recognize today) is . It likely crystallized during the , when Daoist scholars and cosmologists formalized it into the black–white circle with swirling halves.

So:

→ ancient, older than Daoism.

→ deeply absorbed and expressed yin–yang in philosophy.

→ a later artistic expression, especially within Daoist and Neo-Confucian traditions.

The Virtues of Jade, as the ancients understood them:

1. Benevolence (仁 Rén)

Soft and smooth to the touch, jade shows the gentleness of a kind heart.
It reminds us that strength need not be harsh.

2. Righteousness (义 Yì)

Firm and unyielding, it will not bend or break—
the mark of integrity that stands even when unseen.

3. Wisdom (智 Zhì)

Clear enough to catch the light, yet never boastful of its beauty—
like a mind that reflects truth without distortion.

4. Courage (勇 Yǒng)

When struck, jade rings with a pure tone; it does not shatter or hide its sound.
So should courage speak—true, not loud.

5. Sincerity (信 Xìn)

Its color never fades. What it appears to be, it is.
Honesty that endures through time.

Ten Principles of Confucius

1. Harmony is the highest virtue (和為貴, hé wéi guì).
   ‘The noble person seeks harmony, not sameness.’
   True harmony allows difference, yet balances it.
   

2. Filial Piety (孝, xiào).
   ‘Filial piety and fraternal respect are the root of humanity.’
   Honor parents, elders, and ancestors — this is the seed of virtue.
   

3. The Noble Person (君子, jūnzǐ).
   The ideal human is upright, humble, trustworthy, and compassionate. The noble person is measured not by birth, but by character.
   

4. The Five Relationships.
   Parent/child, ruler/subject, elder/younger, husband/wife, friend/friend. Each carried duties of respect and care, forming the structure of harmony in society.
   

5. Rectification of Names (正名, zhèng míng).
   ‘If names are not correct, speech does not accord with truth, and affairs cannot succeed.’
   Words must match reality. To misuse names is to cause disorder.
   

6. The Doctrine of the Mean (中庸, zhōng yōng).
   ‘Virtue is to be found in the golden mean, between extremes.’
   Balance, moderation, and avoiding excess create stability.
   

7. Self-Cultivation before Governance.
   ‘To govern others, you must first govern yourself.’
   Leaders must cultivate virtue within before ruling without.
   

8. Learning and Reflection.
   ‘To learn without thinking is labor lost; to think without learning is perilous.’
   Wisdom comes from study joined with reflection.
   

9. Leading by Virtue.
   ‘The noble ruler is like the North Star: he remains in place, and all the people turn toward him.’
   Lead by moral example, not force.
   

10. Ren (仁, humaneness).
    The core virtue — compassion, benevolence, humanity. ‘Do not do to others what you would not wish done to yourself.

These are the ten roots of Confucius’ teaching. Not all will be easy to practice, but each, when lived, becomes a step toward harmony.

To write the tenets in calligraphy is not only art but practice of virtue.

When the brush moves, the heart must be steady, the hand must be measured, the breath must be calm. In this way, calligraphy becomes not just writing, but self-cultivation.

1. Ren (仁) — Humaneness
   

2. Li (禮) — Ritual / Propriety
   

3. Xiao (孝) — Filial Piety
   

4. Junzi (君子) — Noble Person
   

5. He (和) — Harmony
   

6. Yi (義) — Righteousness
   

7. Zhi (智) — Wisdom
   

8. Xin (信) — Trustworthiness
   

9. Zhongyong (中庸) — Doctrine of the Mean
   

10. Zhengming (正名) — Rectification of Names

“Humaneness (仁, Rén) is the life within all the other virtues. It is what gives them warmth and meaning. Without it, loyalty may become duty without compassion, and righteousness may become judgment without mercy.”