Analects 15.6 · Wei Ling Gong
“If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your conduct sincere and respectful, you will succeed even among distant peoples.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
言忠信 行篤敬 雖蠻貊之邦行矣 (yán zhōng xìn, xíng dǔ jìng, suī mán mò zhī bāng xíng yǐ) means “If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your conduct sincere and respectful, you will succeed even among distant peoples.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 6.
言忠信 行篤敬 雖蠻貊之邦行矣
- Pinyin
- yán zhōng xìn, xíng dǔ jìng, suī mán mò zhī bāng xíng yǐ
- Translation
- If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your conduct sincere and respectful, you will succeed even among distant peoples.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 6
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Wei Ling Gong chapter, 忠信 means a sincere heart and trustworthy speech, while 篤敬 means substantial, reverent conduct. 蠻貊 referred to peoples beyond China's southern and northern borders, and indicates that these values prevail wherever cultures differ. Echoing 'Be courteous in private life, reverent in work, and sincere toward people,' the passage reaffirms that truthfulness in speech and action is a universal value. Confucius was certain that practicing universal virtues would earn recognition anywhere.
How can we apply it today?
This passage resonates strongly for modern people working in multicultural and multinational settings. When communicating across differences of language and culture, the most important qualities are not linguistic skill or business etiquette but fundamental sincerity and diligence. Even global business relationships are ultimately built on trust. In any country or culture, dealing sincerely and acting conscientiously open the way forward.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Are my words sincere and trustworthy?
- ·What attitude do I bring to interactions with people from different cultures or backgrounds?
- ·What strength of mine can be understood anywhere?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 忠 | zhōng | loyalty | 8 | 心 (heart) |
| 信 | xìn | trust | 9 | 人 (person) |
| 行 | xíng | travel | 6 | 行 (walk) |
| 篤 | dǔ | sincere | 16 | 竹 (bamboo) |
| 敬 | jìng | respect | 12 | 攴 (tap) |
| 雖 | suī | although | 17 | 隹 (short-tailed bird) |
| 蠻 | mán | non-Chinese people | 25 | 虫 (insect) |
| 貊 | mò | non-Chinese people | 12 | 豸 (badger) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 邦 | bāng | state | 7 | 邑 (city) |
| 行 | xíng | travel | 6 | 行 (walk) |
| 矣 | yǐ | grammatical particle | 7 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “If your words are loyal and trustworthy and…” mean?
言忠信 行篤敬 雖蠻貊之邦行矣 (yán zhōng xìn, xíng dǔ jìng, suī mán mò zhī bāng xíng yǐ) means “If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your conduct sincere and respectful, you will succeed even among distant peoples.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 6.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.6: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 6.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
This passage resonates strongly for modern people working in multicultural and multinational settings.