A Probe into JIAYi’s Propriety Thought

The contradictions between rite and law run through JIA Yi’s propriety thought. He thought that both propriety and law, occurring at the same time, have the same origin from Taoism, so there is no superiority and inferiority between them, which negates the principle that propriety is superior while law is inferior and deviates from Confucian tradition. However, he focuses on both equality and hierarchy of propriety and law in practical political society, so he goes back to Confucian tradition.