In Confucian thought, the concept of shun () 1 contains a deep theoretical tension.On one hand, in both ancient and modern contexts, shun is often equated with "submission" or "compliance," implying passivity and subordination, a sense at odds with contemporary values of autonomy.On the other hand, in the Confucian classics, shun frequently carries a positive, even exalted, moral meaning.For example, the highest political ideal is described as da-shun (), 2 often translated as "Great Shun," which suggests a supreme harmony of society.Within early Confucian political discourse, shun constitutes a concept of profound dialectical tension.On one level, shun is frequently subsumed under notions of compliance or subordination, positioning the agent in a posture of passive rule, a configuration seemingly incompatible with the modern normative paradigm of autonomy.Yet, in another register, classical texts ascribe to shun a distinctively moral and cosmological legitimacy: da-shun, the "Great Shun," operates not merely as a political symbol but 1.Throughout this paper, the Chinese term shun () is used in its romanized form when referring to specific classical usages, to distinguish its meaning from generic English translations like "obedience," "compliance," or "following."This highlights the conceptual richness and polyvalence of the original term in early Confucian political and ethical discourse.2.
Pei Yu (Thu,) studied this question.