Confucianism

Ren and Ritual

True benevolence expresses itself through proper ritual behavior.

Ren and li (ritual propriety) are deeply connected. Ritual without ren is empty formalism. Ren without ritual has no proper expression. Together they create meaningful, caring social interaction.

A person without ren, what has such a person to do with ritual?

Confucius, Analects 3.3

Ren provides the inner motivation for proper ritual behavior.

Analects