Listen to this articlexiūcí-lìchéng 修辞立诚
Establish Credibility Through Careful Choice of Words
修撰文辞，确立诚信。“修”指修撰、修饰，也有人认为指内心的修养省察。“辞”指言辞、文辞，是所说的话语；也有人认为指文治教化。“立”，建立，确立。“诚”是诚信，包含文辞真实、内容信实、感情诚挚、恭敬守信等多重含义。因文字训诂的不同及对“修辞”“立诚”二者关系的认识不同，对“修辞立诚”的含义主要有两种理解：其一，整顿礼乐法度，确立诚信。意思是治国者要以诚信之心撰写文辞，将自己的治国原则和规范注入其中；通过文辞的表达、流布，使这种原则和规范在民众中得以确立，并内化为人们的诚信品格。“立诚”是“修辞”的出发点，也是“修辞”的最终归宿。其二，撰写文章要表达作者真实的思想情感，不可浮文虚饰。儒家认为，文辞是传达思想感情的，思想感情、道德品质的差异，必然最终表现为文章的优劣。无论作何解释，“修辞立诚”都反映出中国人对于名实相副、言行一致、表里如一等诚实、诚信品格的崇尚。
This term means to establish credibility by careful use of language. The Chinese character xiu (修) refers to the careful selection of words and phrases as well as logical arrangement of text in writing a story, and some believe that it also refers to the cultivation of one’s mind. The Chinese character ci (辞) refers to what one says, and some interpret it as governance of public affairs and cultivation of good manners. The Chinese phrase licheng (立诚) means to establish credibility. When it comes to the writing of stories, it means what one writes about is true, the rhetoric one uses is plain and simple and one is sincere in expressing his or her feelings. Because of different written explanations in ancient books as well as different interpretations about the relationship between xiuci and licheng, this set phrase has primarily two meanings. The first addresses the overhaul of rituals and music as well as legal codes. This means that rulers must compose documents or essays with sincerity so that the principles for governance and social norms can be explicitly illustrated in documents or essays. As a result, the principles for running the country and social norms will be accepted by the public from well-written documents and essays, and be followed to the letter. The second refers to the expression of what a writer really thinks and feels when it comes to the writing of stories or essays. Confucianism holds that diction conveys what a writer thinks and feels, and hence the moral integrity of the writer can find expression in what he writes. If anything, this phrase indicates the importance Chinese people attach to the consistency between language and reality, between one’s words and actions, and between one’s appearance and inner thoughts.
引例 Citation：
◎君子进德修业。忠信，所以进德也。修辞立其诚，所以居业也。（《周易·文言》）
（君子要不断增进美德，修成功业。为人忠实守信，可以增进美德。修撰文辞，确立诚信，可以积累功业。）
A man of virtue should never stop promoting virtue and seeking improvement. Being honest and trustworthy helps in strengthening the cultivation of virtue. Establishing credibility by cultivating diction can lead to the accumulation of achievements. (The Book of Changes)
