Love and hate are two basic desires or emotions of humans, often classified under the category of “will” or“emotion”along with delight, anger, sadness, and joy. Compared to other emotions, love and hate have a more fundamental meaning. People usually think that delight, anger, sadness, and joy are presented based on love and hate. Love and hate are innate psychological abilities, and one should exercise restraint in loving or hating things. Control and regulation of one’s love and hate is an important function of propriety.

The general population experiences emotions of love, hate, delight, anger, sadness, and joy. These six emotions originate from the influences of six types of qi, namely yin, yang, wind, rain, darkness, and brightness. Therefore, it is important to conscientiously adhere to suitable principles and classifications in order to regulate these six emotions. (Zuo’s Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals)

When the functions of nature have been established and brought into play, one’s physical form emerges and one’s spirit is born. Love and hate, delight and anger as well as sadness and joy all develop within one’s physical form; and they are called natural emotions. (Xunzi)

The sovereign ruler should share the preferences of the people for what they like, and the ruler should also share their aversions towards what they dislike. This is what is meant by being “the parent of the people.” (The Book of Rites)