Righteousness Versus Yi: Two Senses of Justice

The narratives of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac in the Old Testament and Shun's renunciation of the throne to save his father, who had committed a crime in Meng-Zi, have had a profound influence on Western and Chinese culture. The two stories are widely known and referenced due to their cultural significance, which is evident in various artistic, literary, religious, and philosophical forms. While the two narratives may be viewed as murder and corruption from a universal ethical standpoint, historical traditions interpret them differently. Abraham's actions are revered as the epitome of righteousness, while Shun's actions exemplify the most appropriate (yi義) course of action in complex moral dilemmas. These narratives offer contrasting values, yet both contribute to the education of justice within the Christian and Confucian contexts. However, when translating classical Chinese texts, the Confucian concept of "yi" is often rendered as "righteousness". This paper aims to elucidate the essential distinction between the concepts of righteousness and yi by analysing the respective deliberations on justice conveyed in these two stories.