The Analects · The Great Learning · The Doctrine of the Mean

Author: Li Yuhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Half of the Analects can govern the world. — Quoted from Helin Yulu.
To be unbiased is called zhong (middle), and to be unchanging is called yong (constant). — Cheng Yi.
The way of the Great Learning lies in manifesting virtue, in renewing the people, and in reaching perfection. — The Three Cardinal Principles.
The Eightfold Path: 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 sayings and deeds of Confucius and his disciples, as well as his disciples. Its content includes Confucius's speeches, answers to his disciples' questions, and discussions among the disciples themselves. Therefore, The Analects is also a collection of 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 as well as his disciples, and was finally compiled by Zeng Can'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 eightfold path of "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 was Ji, and courtesy name was 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 recognizing and dealing with problems, opposing both "excess" and "insufficiency." From a cosmic perspective, The Doctrine of the Mean "the unity of all under heaven." From a political perspective, it "rule by humans and virtue." The Doctrine of the Mean advocates adopting the method of "extensive learning, earnest inquiry, careful reflection, clear discrimination, and steadfast practice" as a foundation of "sincerity."