Doctrine of the Mean
The Doctrine of the Mean (Chinese: 中庸; pinyin: Zhōngyōng) is one of the Four Books, part of the Confucian canonical scriptures.
Like the Great Learning, it is now part of the Records of Rites. It is said to be a composition by Confucius' grandson Kong Ji (孔伋), called Zisi (子思).
The purpose of this small, 33-chapter book is to demonstrate the usefulness of a golden way to gain perfect virtue. It focuses on the "way" (dào, 道) that is prescribed by a heavenly mandate not only to the ruler but to everyone. To follow these heavenly instructions by learning and teaching will automatically result in a Confucian virtue. Because Heaven has laid down what is the way to perfect virtue, it is not that difficult to follow the steps of the holy rulers of old if one only knows what is the right way.
中庸, Zhong yong, is also translated as:
- the Mean (D.C. Lau)
- the Constant Mean (Huang, James Legge)
- the Middle Way (Simon Leys)
- the Middle Use (Arthur Waley)
- the Common Centrality (Tu Wei ming)
- the Unwobbling Pivot, or the Pivot (Ezra Pound).
External links
- English translation, by Charles Muller
- excerpts of the Doctrine of the Mean at Chinaknowledge
- English translation (by James Legge) at Nothingistic.
- Original text in Chinese
| The Four Books and Five Classics (四書五經) | |
|---|---|
| The Four Books: |
The Great Learning (大學) • The Doctrine of the Mean (中庸) • The Analects (論語) • The Mencius (孟子) |
| The Five Classics: |
Classic of Changes (易經) • Classic of Poetry (詩經) • Classic of Rites (禮記) • Classic of History (書經) • Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋) |
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