The Analects, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean.

Author: Li Yuhua Ma Xinhua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Half of the Analects can govern the world. — A quote from The Jade Forest in the Mist.
To be unbiased is called the center; to be unchanging is called the mean. — Cheng Yi.
The way of the Great Learning lies in manifesting virtue, in renewing the people, and in reaching perfection. — The Three Principles.
The Eightfold Path includes: investigating things, extending knowledge, sincere intention, rectifying the mind, cultivating oneself, governing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world.
The Analects is a record of the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples, as well as their discussions with one another. It contains conversations between Confucius and his disciples, as well as discussions among the disciples themselves. Therefore, the Analects is a collection of several fragments and chapters. The arrangement of these chapters has no logical order, and it was not written by a single person. The common view is that the Analects contains the writings of Confucius’s disciples and his second-generation disciples, and was finally compiled by Zengzi’s students.
The Great Learning is a political essay by Confucianism that explains how to govern the state and bring peace to the world. Its main idea is "to cultivate oneself in order to bring peace to the people." Its main content is the principle of "manifesting virtue, renewing the people, and reaching perfection," as well as the eight points: "investigating things, extending knowledge, sincere intention, rectifying the mind, cultivating oneself, governing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." The entire text combines moral cultivation with political discussion, merging life philosophy with political philosophy, fully embodying the "worldly-oriented" thought of Confucianism.
The author of the Doctrine of the Mean was Zisi (483–402 BC), whose surname was Kong, given name Ji, and courtesy name Zisi. He was the son of Kong Li and the grandson of Confucius, and was later revered as the "Paraphraser Sage." The theme of the Doctrine of the Mean lies in explaining the perfection and highest moral of the "Doctrine of the Mean." At the same time, in terms of methodology, it advocates choosing a correct starting point when understanding and addressing problems, opposing both "excess" and "deficiency." From a cosmic perspective, the Doctrine of the Mean "the unity of all under heaven"; from a political perspective, it advocates "rule by humans" and "governance by virtue." The Doctrine of the Mean advocates adopting the academic method of "extensive learning, earnest inquiry, careful reflection, clear discrimination, and steadfast practice" based on the foundation of "sincerity."