Source: The Doctrine of the Mean, which is said to have been written by Zi Si during the Warring States Period.
Excerpts from the original text
Destiny is nature, frankness is Tao, and cultivation is teaching. Tao can't be separated for a moment, and non-Tao can be separated. So a gentleman is wary of what he can't see, and fear is almost unheard of.
Don't be invisible, don't be subtle, so a gentleman is cautious. Emotions and sorrows are not sent, which means that they are in the middle; Sent in the festival, for and; If you are in the middle, you are the biggest in the world; He who is in harmony is also in the world. Neutrality, the position of heaven, the education of all things.
Zhong Ni said: "The gentleman is moderate, the villain is against the mean, the gentleman is also moderate, and the gentleman is in the middle; The villain is despicable, and the villain will do whatever it takes. "
Confucius said, "The golden mean is the ultimate! People rarely last long! "
Confucius said, "I know I can't do it: the knower goes over it, but the fool doesn't." The Tao is unknown, and I know it: the sages have passed it, and the unscrupulous are not as good as it. People seldom know the taste after eating and drinking. "
Confucius said, "It's no use talking, husband!"
Confucius said, "Shun's great wisdom is also relevant! Ask good questions and be good at observing your words, hide evil and promote good, and hold both ends for the people, thinking that it is smooth! "
Translation:
God-given is sex, following nature is the Tao, and self-cultivation is teaching by the way. Tao is inseparable for a moment, but it is not Tao that can leave. Therefore, a gentleman should be careful where no one sees him and be in awe where no one hears him. When hidden, it will be found, and the nuances are obvious. So a gentleman should be careful when he is alone.
Emotional emotions are not revealed, which is called neutrality. Show it, but do it properly. This is called harmony. China is the most fundamental in the world, and harmony is the common rule of the world. Neutralization is achieved, heaven and earth belong to their places, and everything grows and develops.
Confucius said: "A gentleman's words and deeds conform to the golden mean, while a villain's words and deeds violate the golden mean. A gentleman's words and deeds conform to the golden mean, because a gentleman's words and deeds are always impartial. The words and deeds of the villain violate the golden mean, because the words and deeds of the villain are unscrupulous and fearless. "
Confucius said: "The golden mean is the highest realm, and people can rarely practice it for a long time."
Confucius said: "I know that the golden mean cannot be practiced: a wise man goes too far, but a fool can't reach it." I know that the golden mean can't be popularized: the wise go too far, but not the wise. It's like people don't eat, but few people can taste it. "
Confucius said, "I'm afraid the golden mean can't be practiced."
Confucius said, "Shun has great wisdom! He likes asking questions and checking superficial words. He hides others' shortcomings and praises others' benefits. He mastered two extremes and adopted a compromise approach to the people. This is why he is respected as Shun! "
Extended data:
Introduction to the golden mean
The Doctrine of the Mean is a monograph of China's ancient moral philosophy on the realm of life accomplishment, and it is one of the Confucian classics. Originally the thirty-first chapter of the Book of Rites, it was said that it was written by Zi Si during the Warring States Period.
Its content affirms that "the golden mean" is the highest standard of moral behavior, regards "sincerity" as the noumenon of the world, thinks that "sincerity" reaches the highest realm of life, and puts forward the learning process and cognitive methods of "erudition, questioning, deliberation, discernment and perseverance". It was extracted from the Book of Rites in the Song Dynasty and merged with Daxue, Analects of Confucius and Mencius into four books.
After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it became an official textbook, and the imperial examination was compulsory, which had a great influence on the ancient education and society in China. Its main annotations include Cheng Hao's The Doctrine of the Mean, Cheng Yi's Interpretation of the Doctrine of the Mean, Zhu's Chapters of the Doctrine of the Mean, Li Yong's Biography of the Doctrine of the Mean, Dai Zhen's Supplementary Notes on the Doctrine of the Mean, Kang Youwei's Notes on the Doctrine of the Mean, Ma Qichang's Friends of the Doctrine of the Mean and Hu's Brief Comments on the Doctrine of the Mean.
Brief introduction of the author
Zisi, a native of Shandong, surnamed Kong, Mingji, grandson of Confucius, was one of the main representatives of Confucian school in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. He was called a "saint" in history, and the school he founded was called "Zi Si Confucianism", which was called Meng Si School together with Mencius. His main works include twenty-three sub-thoughts contained in History of Han Literature and Art, all of which have been lost.
Creation background
The doctrine of the mean comes from the Book of Rites, which was originally Article 3 1 in Article 49 of the Book of Rites. The Book of Rites was originally named The Book of Rites of Little Dai, also known as The Book of Little Dai. It was compiled by Dai Sheng in Xuan Di era according to a batch of anonymous Confucian works left over from history.
Before the Song Dynasty, scholars called The Doctrine of the Mean written by Zi Si during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Sima Qian's Historical Records Confucius Family: "Zi Si writes the doctrine of the mean." Li Ao's "Li Wengong's Collection and Renaming Book": "Zi Si wrote forty-seven articles of the Doctrine of the Mean and spread them to Monk." Zhu's preface to The Doctrine of the Mean: "What does the Doctrine of the Mean do? Zi Zisi was worried about the loss of Taoism. "
Since the Song Dynasty, some scholars believe that The Doctrine of the Mean is the miscellaneous notes of Zi Si and Confucian scholars in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Ouyang Xiu's "Ask the Scholars": "Q: The book of rites and music is scattered, but it is mixed with Confucian opinions. Only the book" The Doctrine of the Mean "comes from Zi Si. Zisi, after being a saint, should tell the truth, but what if he says he is a saint? "
Ye Shi's Three Prefaces to Xi Xue Ji Yan Mu Wen Jian: "Although the Han people call Zi Si's writing the doctrine of the mean, today they test it with their books, and doubt is not only a factor." In the Qing Dynasty, many people thought that the Doctrine of the Mean was not written by Zi Si. In particular, Cui Shu put forward three arguments in the third volume of Zhu Si Bian to prove his point of view.
Nowadays, Feng Youlan, Qian Mu, Lao Siguang and others also prove that The Doctrine of the Mean was not written by Zi Si from the aspects of literature and thought. The above two views have their own basis. It is generally believed in academic circles that The Doctrine of the Mean was written by Zi Si and many of his disciples.
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