ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the nature of questions related to revenge as they appear in certain ancient Ruist scriptures as well as in popular Chinese culture. Chinese forms of revenge generally invoke principles which are known in many other cultures as well: if someone does an evil act which hurts or kills a relative or friend, vengeance requires a response. If acts of revenge were justified on the basis of family honour, judges may rule against vengeful persons on the basis of current penal codes, but then honour their "moral" actions. On this basis of the alternative interpretive traditions within Ruist texts and schools, therefore, the very popular and persistent interests in pursuing revenge within contemporary Chinese culture can be addressed and overcome by means of reference to both classical and traditional forms of Ruist ethics, one that seeks to "overcome evil with humane cultivation".
