Li - Ritual Propriety
The proper forms of behavior that maintain social harmony.
Li encompasses ritual, etiquette, customs, and proper behavior. It is the external expression of inner virtue, the forms through which people interact harmoniously. Li structures all social relationships.
Do not look at what is contrary to li; do not listen to what is contrary to li.
Li provides the structure for proper social behavior.
Analects
Written about in
- What Confucianism says about reverence and ritual
Li is the whole repertoire of ritual, custom and proper behaviour: the outward shape conduct takes. In the Analects it governs what you look at and listen to, not only how you act.