What is the real meaning of "righteousness" in China traditional culture?

In the traditional culture of China, righteousness is the closest combination with benevolence, and people always put it together. Generally speaking, benevolence means righteousness, and righteousness means benevolence. But if you subdivide it, there is still a difference between "benevolence" and "righteousness". Benevolence is the fundamental moral character of a gentleman, and righteousness is the principle of doing things from the moral character of benevolence.

Benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom "* * * together constitute the basis of ethics. Confucius talked about "righteousness" and said that "a gentleman is righteous and a villain is beneficial", but the meaning and spirit of "righteousness" were mainly expounded by Mencius.

Confucius said that "killing one's body to become a human being" (The Analects of Confucius, Wei Linggong), and Mencius said that "life is replaced by righteousness". Confucius emphasized benevolence, while Mencius broadly linked benevolence and righteousness, and * * * became the highest criterion of moral behavior.

Mencius pointed out that the source of "benevolence" is compassion, but also pointed out that shame is the source of "righteousness" "Benevolence" naturally comes from the goodness of human nature, and "righteousness" naturally comes from "benevolence".

Extended data:

Confucius, Mencius and later Confucianism always valued "righteousness" over "profit". Confucius said that "seeing righteousness and then taking benefits" means seeing benefits, first of all, we must consider whether it conforms to "righteousness". If they are unreasonable and not "righteous", you can't get any more benefits.

Righteousness can also be divided into small righteousness and righteousness. Just like the collective interest and the national interest, what is in the collective interest can be compared to small righteousness, and what is in the national interest can be compared to great righteousness. When the small meaning conflicts with the big meaning, the small meaning should obey the big meaning.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-Renyi