University · Confucianism · The Classic of Filial Piety

Author: Shi Wanpeng and Ji Ruiling
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The Great Learning (Da Xue) takes the cultivation of personal virtue as its core, proposing: "From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all must take the cultivation of personal virtue as the foundation." The methods for cultivating virtue include investigating things, achieving harmony, sincerity, and rectifying the mind. It emphasizes that the process of cultivating personal virtue is not merely introspection but also involves engaging with external things, delving into the nature of things to gain knowledge, and fostering moral character and perfecting one's personality. The purpose of cultivating virtue is to govern the family, rule the state, and bring peace to the world. The Great Learning holds that governing the state and bringing peace to the world should be based on virtue. The Doctrine of the Mean emphasizes "sincerity," believing it to be the key to achieving the "Way of the Mean." The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean were originally two chapters of the Book of Rites but are now published separately, indicating their unique value. The Great Learning was originally a chapter of the Small Confucian Commentary on the Rites and is traditionally attributed to Zeng Can, a disciple of Confucius. The Great Learning summarizes the ethical and political thought of pre-Qin Confucianism and systematically elaborates on the principles and steps of cultivating virtue and achieving the Way. Confucius once said, "My teachings are reflected in the Spring and Autumn Annals, and my personal conduct is embodied in the Classic of Filial Piety," demonstrating the high status of the Classic of Filial Piety among Confucian classics and in Chinese culture. The filial piety elaborated in the Classic of Filial Piety has had an undeniable influence on the behavioral norms and value orientations of Chinese people, and it has been proven that it cannot be simply negated or discarded by a few slogans like "anti-filial piety." As for the value of filial piety in modern society, whether it is a cultural shackle thats people's striving and progress or an education that cultivates the moral and ethical norms of the people, or whether it has some utility in inheriting and critiquing, it is best for readers to reflect on this after reading this book.