University · The Doctrine of the Mean

Author: Wang Guoxuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Great Learning is one of the renowned classical texts of ancient China. Originally a chapter of the Book of Rites, it did not attract significant attention before the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, figures like Han Yu began to cite the Great Learning, bringing it into focus. By the Song Dynasty, the founders of Neo-Confucianism, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, held the Great Learning in high regard, referring to it as: "The of Confucius, and the initial gateway for entering the path of virtue." The synthesizer of Neo-Confucianism in the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi, stated: "The celestial cycle is unending, with no return without repetition. The virtue of the Song Dynasty flourished, and governance and education were clear and bright. Thus, the two masters of the Cheng family in Henan emerged, connecting with the transmission of Mencius. They truly revered and highlighted this text, organizing its chapters, revealing its essence, and thereby restoring the ancient method of teaching virtue and the guidance of the sacred texts and virtuous tradition to the world." Later, Zhu Xi revised the order based on the teachings of the two Chengs, dividing it into one chapter of the Classic and ten chapters of the Commentary, and believed that the chapter on "Extending Knowledge Through Investigation of Things" was missing, composing his famous Supplementary Commentary. Zhu Xi's interpretation of the Great Learning was a reinterpretation, in other words, a new understanding from the perspective of Neo-Confucianism. It fully embodied the study of mind and nature, elevating the Great Learning to a philosophical work. From then on, Neo-Confucianism not only continued the transmission of the Way but also developed its own structure and order.
The Doctrine of the Mean is another important Confucian classic, similar to the Book of Changes, serving as a theoretical wellspring for Confucianism. However, the Book of Changes has a greater influence and broader scope, while the Doctrine of the Mean became the focus of study for Confucians after the Song Dynasty. Many concepts and propositions in Neo-Confucianism originate from the Doctrine of the Mean, and many leading Neo-Confucian scholars adhered to its principles. Many Confucians used its methodology for thought, demonstrating the profound influence of the Doctrine of the Mean on the formation of Chinese civilization.
The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean were originally chapters of the Book of Rites. The Great Learning centers on the cultivation of the self, proposing: "From the Son of Heaven to the common people, all must take the cultivation of the self as the foundation." Investigation of things, harmony, sincerity, and rectification of the mind are the methods for self-cultivation. It emphasizes that self-cultivation and nurturing one's nature are not merely introspective processes but also involve engaging with external things, seeking knowledge through understanding the principles of nature, and cultivating moral character and perfecting one's personality. The purpose of self-cultivation is to govern the family, rule the state, and bring peace to the world. The Great Learning holds that governance and peace should be based on virtue. The Doctrine of the Mean emphasizes "sincerity," viewing it as the key to achieving the "Way of the Mean."
The Doctrine of the Mean is another important Confucian classic, similar to the Book of Changes, serving as a theoretical wellspring for Confucianism. However, the Book of Changes has a greater influence and broader scope, while the Doctrine of the Mean became the focus of study for Confucians after the Song Dynasty. Many concepts and propositions in Neo-Confucianism originate from the Doctrine of the Mean, and many leading Neo-Confucian scholars adhered to its principles. Many Confucians used its methodology for thought, demonstrating the profound influence of the Doctrine of the Mean on the formation of Chinese civilization.