University, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Classic of Filial Piety (Full Text, Full Translation, Illustrated, Pinyin Edition)

Author: Shi Wanpeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
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 cultivating personal virtue and nurturing character is not merely an introspective process but also one of engaging with external things, exploring the principles of nature to gain knowledge, and cultivating moral character and perfecting one's personality. The purpose of cultivating virtue is to regulate the family, govern 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 that sincerity is 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 and are now published separately, indicating their unique value. The Great Learning was originally a chapter of the Small Seal Ritual and is traditionally attributed to Zeng Can, a disciple of Confucius. It 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," which shows the position of the Classic of Filial Piety in Confucian classics and 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 abandoned 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 it after reading this book.