A Brief Discussion on the Chinese Character "Ren" (忍, Forbearance)
 
The Chinese character "Ren" is pictophonetics (a character that is formed by combining one element indicating meaning and the other sound). The character "Ren" (忍, forbearance) is composed of the element "xin" (心, heart) which represents the meaning, and the element "ren" (刃, knife blade) which represents the sound. "Ren" means to endure, to forbear, and to tolerate. It also contains the connotation of self-restraint and self-control. The character "Ren" (forbearance) is formed by placing the "knife" over the "heart," as if implying "Ren" (forbearance) is not easily achieved by ordinary people, but requires a higher level of cultivation, discipline, and will.
 
Why should we forbear? What are the positive outcomes of forbearing? One can read in Words of Admonition (author anonymous) concerning forbearance: "If the wealthy can forbear, they will preserve their ancestry—if the poor can forbear, they will be freed from humiliation. If father and son can forbear, they will treat each other with filial piety and parental tenderness. If brothers can forbear, they will treat each other with righteousness and sincerity. If friends can forbear, their friendship will last. If husband and wife can forbear, their relationship will be harmonious. In the middle of a tribulation, those who forbear may be ridiculed and laughed at by others. But, once one overcomes the tribulation, those who ridiculed and laughed will be ashamed and mortified."
 
During thousands glorious years of divine culture, the virtuous sages took great pains to teach people to be tolerant and forgiving, to endure humiliation, and to forbear great responsibilities, thus creating a rich and precious "culture of forbearance." There are numerous inspiring "stories of forbearance" that have been recorded in history books and chronicles.
 
“忍”字浅谈
 
忍，是个形声字，从心，刃声。“忍”字有忍耐、容忍的意思，还有抑制、克制的意思。从字形上看，“忍”字是“心”上面一把“刀”，这似乎已经在明示人们，“忍”可并不是一般人能轻易做到的，这需要有较高的修养和意志。
 
为什么要忍呢？忍又有什么好处呢？一则《无名氏忍箴》中说的好：富者能忍保家，贫者能忍免辱；父子能忍孝慈，兄弟能忍义笃；朋友能忍情长，夫妇能忍和睦。忍时人皆耻笑，忍过人尽愧伏。
 
在我们数千年璀璨的神传文化中，先贤圣人们不厌其烦的教人要忍让宽恕、要忍辱负重，形成了丰富宝贵的“忍文化”，史册典籍中记载下了无数“忍者”可歌可泣的故事。