Mohist jiān ài was defined against Confucian graded love

Evidence

The core ethical doctrine — the argument that gives Mohism its distinctive philosophical signature — is jiān ài (兼愛). The standard English translations are universal love, impartial care, inclusive concern. Each captures part of the original Chinese, but none is exactly right. Jiān (兼), in classical Chinese, means both, all-inclusive, comprehensive. Ài (愛) means love, care, concern. Jiān ài — “comprehensive concern” — is deliberately contrasted, in Mohist polemic, with Confucian bie ài (別愛) — differentiated concern — the love that distinguishes by relationship, that loves family more than friends, friends more than strangers, strangers more than enemies. — , The Rod and the Child, 968

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines jiān ài vs bie ài, the core conceptual contrast of the chapter.
• XREF: Connects to the Confucian graded-love/‘technology of face’ framework developed in earlier episodes of this book.