expression, ichidan verb
order one's life; cultivate oneself; lead a disciplined life
A somewhat formal, literary expression for self-cultivation and moral discipline, often associated with Confucian or traditional ideals of personal conduct.
彼は若い頃から身を修めることを心がけてきた。
He has been mindful of cultivating himself since he was young.
古典には、身
In the classics, there is a teaching that one should first order one's own life before governing the household.