This term, neixing (内省), means introspection, or self-examination. Introspection was a form of moral cultivation advocated by the Confucians. They felt that while moral cultivation certainly required words and deeds to adhere externally to moral standards, it was fundamentally dependent on the internal formation of moral awareness. Hence, while they were concerned with people’s words and deeds, they placed even more emphasis on cultivation of the inner self. They favored constant examination of one’s true intentions, as well as the formation and observance of internal moral awareness.

Confucius said, “If I examine myself and find no fault, what is there for me to fear?” The Analects