ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how the rich meanings of the concept of “trustworthiness”, the foundation of the Confucian male friendship, shaped literati actions and relations in that world on both individual and collective levels. Zhu Zuwen and Zhou Shunchang’s friendship grew out of their shared commitment to filial piety. The turning point in their relationship from that of patronage to friendship came as the eunuch-dominated court ordered Zhou’s arrest in the spring of 1626. The growth of Zhu and Zhou’s friendship also depended on a similar understanding of fatherly responsibilities. The ideal Confucian friendship goes far beyond blind self-sacrifice; it is formed on the friends’ shared understanding of how to handle everyday practical matters in the most considerate manner. Some experienced spiritual growth and deepened their personal understanding of true friendship, while others approached their part less intellectually.
