KEY CONCEPTS

TERMBASES

Seven Emotions and Six Desires

This refers to various human emotions and desires. The term “seven emotions” comes from The Book of Rites, referring to happiness, anger, sadness, fear, love, hatred, and desire. The term “six desires” first appeared in Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals, referring to human desire for life, desire against death, and the desires of human organs such as ears, eyes, mouth and nose for sound, color, taste and aroma. Later, the term “seven emotions and six desires” came to be used to describe people’s emotions and desires in general. Such emotions and desires, being naturally born with people, should be released or satisfied as appropriate. But they should not become excessive.

CITATION
1
What are human emotions? They are happiness, anger, sadness, fear, love, hatred, and desire which are naturally born with people.
CITATION
2
Preserving life means satisfying people’s justified desires.
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