The
Content
of
the
New
Life
Movement
1.
The
Principles
of
the
New
Life
Movement
The
New
Life
Movement
aims
at
the
promotion
of
a
regular
life
guided
by
the
four
virtues,
namely, li
[ritual/decorum],
yi
[rightness
or
duty],
lian
[integrity
or
honesty],
and
chi
[sense
of
shame].
Those
virtues
must
be
applied
to
ordinary
life
in
the
matter
of
food,
clothing,
shelter,
and
action.
The
four
virtues
are
the
essential
principles
for
the
promotion
of
morality.
They
form
the
major
rules
for
dealing
with
men
and
human
affairs,
for
cultivating
oneself,
and
for
adjustment
to
one’s
surroundings.
Whoever
violates
these
rules
is
bound
to
fail,
and
a
nation
that
neglects
them
will
not
survive.
There
are
two
kinds
of
skeptics:
First,
some
hold
that
the
four
virtues
are
merely
rules
of
good
conduct.
No
matter
how
good
they
may
be,
they
are
not
sufficient
to
save
a
nation
whose
knowledge
and
technique
are
inferior
to
others.
Those
who
hold
this
view
do
not
seem
to
understand
the
distinction
between
matters
of
primary
and
secondary
importance.
People
need
knowledge
and
technique
because
they
want
to
do
good.
Otherwise,
knowledge
and
technique
can
only
be
instruments
of
dishonorable
deeds.
Li,
yi,
lian,
and
chi are
the
principal
rules
alike
for
the
community,
the
group,
or
the
entire
nation.
Those
who
do
not
observe
these
rules
will
probably
utilize
their
knowledge
and
ability
to
the
detriment
of
society
and
ultimately
to
their
own
disadvantage.
Therefore,
these
virtues
not
only
can
save
the
nation
but
also
can
rebuild
the
nation.
Second,
there
is
another
group
of
people
who
argue
that
these
virtues
are
merely
formal
refinements
that
are
useless
in
dealing
with
hunger
and
cold.
…
[Yet]
when
these
virtues
prevail,
even
if
food
and
clothing
are
insufficient,
they
can
be
produced
by
human
labor;
or,
if
the
granary
is
empty,
it
can
be
filled
through
human
effort.
On
the
other
hand,
when
these
virtues
are
not
observed,
if
food
and
clothing
are
insufficient,
they
will
not
be
made
sufficient
by
fighting
and
robbing;
or,
if
the
granary
is
empty,
it
will
not
be
filled
by
stealing
and
begging