君 “ruler”, 王 “king”, etc. : there are many symbols and euphemisms for various members of the nobility (“nobles”, “superiors”, “master of the people”, “son of heaven”, “master of 10,000 chariots”, etc.)
貴 “high rank” : any position of power or admiration
While the DDJ is over 2000 years old, its wisdom is still applicable today, but don’t be fooled by the ancient wording! “King” could today apply to anyone who runs things, manages others, or leads any kind of group (from the nation’s leader to a corporation CEO to…your boss), and “high rank” could apply to government officials, billionaires, or even movie stars.
There are also many Confucian terms used in the DDJ :
仁 “kindness” : being benevolent, kindhearted, humane
義 “righteousness” (translated as “morality” to avoid religious associations) : having a sense of justice, doing
the right thing, being morally upright
禮 “propriety” : ritual courtesy and formality; proper etiquette
智 “wise”, “wisdom” : as it says
信 “truth”, “trust”, “honest” : as it says
忠 “loyalty” : as it says
勇 “courage”, “brave” : as it says
廉 “honorable” : having a sense of honor or integrity; incorruptibility
孝 “filial piety” (translated as “devoted children”) : respect your elders and parents, duty to your parents, care
for the elderly
慈 “compassion” : benevolence, mercy; as specifically applied to parents’ attitude towards their children, this is