Social Harmony
Li creates and maintains harmony in society.
When everyone follows li, social interactions proceed smoothly. Li prevents conflict by providing clear expectations for behavior. Harmony (he) is the goal; li is the means.
In the practice of li, harmony is what is valued.
Harmony is the ultimate purpose of ritual propriety.
Analects
Written about in
- What Confucianism says about order in human life
Li works by making expectations legible, so there is less for conflict to catch on. What is prized in its practice is harmony.