Jun 4, 2012
The ultimate goal in Confucian political philosophy, as stated in this aphorism, is to bring
peace under heaven (pingtianxia). To do so, one must first be able to keep one’s own
household in order (qijia), which in turn requires that one cultivate ‘self’ (xiushen).
This teaching is a political philosophy that ties together individuality, family and
community – but can be interpreted in varying ways (Kim, 1994:190).