Easy Learning Thinking and the Theory of Life Value

Author: Liu Yuping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The life value orientation of "establish virtue, establish achievement, and establish trust" is, in my opinion, closer to pre-Qin Confucianism. Confucianism advocates active engagement in the world and promotes the so-called "inner sage, outer king" path. Inner sage refers to personal cultivation, while outer king refers to its application in politics. The Great Learning discusses the "Three Principles" and the "Eight Steps." The Three Principles are "manifesting virtue," "transforming the people," and "reaching perfection." The Eight Steps are the specific steps to achieve the Three Principles: investigating things, extending knowledge, sincere intention, rectifying the mind, cultivating oneself, governing the family, governing the state, and pacifying the world. The first five steps are inner sage practices, while the last three are the results of applying them to the outer king. This is a continuous process from inner cultivation to establishing virtue and then to achieving success. As Confucianism primarily focused on education and moral cultivation, it left behind more works on establishing words and thoughts, which helps us today in understanding Confucian life values.