天てん爵しゃく

noun

true merit; natural nobility

A Confucian concept from Mencius referring to innate moral worth or virtue bestowed by Heaven, as opposed to social rank. Rare in modern Japanese outside of classical or philosophical contexts.

• 孟もう子しの教おしえでは、天てん爵しゃくは人じん爵しゃくよりも尊とうといとされる。

  In the teachings of Mencius, natural nobility is considered more honorable than social rank.