University · The Doctrine of the Mean

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: "The Great Learning" refers to profound and extensive knowledge concerning politics and philosophy. The Great Learning holds that human life is inherently endowed with a noble "moral virtue" (mingde). After entering the world, this "moral virtue" is obscured and must be restored through the education of "the way of the Great Learning." This process revitalizes moral virtue, reforms the people's hearts, and achieves a state of perfect moral excellence. "The Doctrine of the Mean," on the other hand, inspires people to think without bias, avoid extremes, and always advance along the right path. It elucidates the comprehensive application of sincerity (cheng) and the mean (zhong), representing Confucius's great revelation and the core of Confucianism. Here, selected chapters from these texts are annotated and translated.