Rei (礼)

Rei (礼) is a most important notion for understanding the Confucian way. It has two overlapping meanings: proper comportment and ritual. It was not lost on sages like Confucius that habits determine character. The repeating patterns of what we say, what we do, and how we think determine what we become and what we are. As our habits go, so go we. In Confucius's view, attentive performance of social ritual and everyday etiquette shapes human character in accordance with archetypal patterns. We thereby make our own the wise ways of the ancients, which are heaven's ways.

--- Roger T. Ames