Source: the golden mean
Selected works of the golden mean:
Great, the way of saints! It is magnificent, develops everything and is extremely steep in the sky. Yo-yo Etiquette 300, dignity 3000. Treat others and do it. Therefore, there is no way without virtue. Therefore, a gentleman respects morality and seeks knowledge.
Both broad and subtle. Very clear and gentle. Review the old and learn the new, with trepidation. Not arrogant and impetuous in the former residence, but not inferior; There are state-owned roads, and their words are enough to prosper the country; There is nothing the country can do. Silence is enough. The poem says, "Be wise, be wise, and protect your body." This is called peace!
Confucius said: "Foolish but good at using, humble but good at learning, born in this world, the anti-ancient way: this thing, it is also a disaster." Non-imperial, rude, unrestrained, and without textual research.
I got off the bus today, the same track, the same book, the same route. Although there is a person, if there is no virtue, I dare not be polite; Although it has many advantages. No place, you're welcome. Confucius said, "I don't want to ask for a summer gift. I learn from Li Yin, and I have Song Cunyan. I studied Zhou Li and use it today. I learn from Zhou. "
Translation:
Great, the way of saints. Vast, everything grows and develops, as high as the sky. Sufficient and great, three hundred etiquette and three thousand dignity, can only be implemented after the emergence of saints. Therefore, if we can't reach the highest moral realm, the highest Tao will not succeed.
Therefore, a gentleman should respect virtue, be good at asking questions, reach a broad realm and be thorough and meticulous, reach the ultimate wisdom, and follow the golden mean. Review what you have learned in the past to gain new knowledge and respect etiquette with a simple and honest attitude.
In this way, you will not be proud when you are in the upper position, and you will not turn your back when you are in the lower position. Try to be accepted when the national politics is clear, and save yourself by silence when the national politics is dark. That's what the sentence in the Book of Songs says, "Be wise and smart, so as to protect yourself"!
Confucius said: "Stupid people only act according to subjective intentions, humble but arbitrary, living in this era, but retro, in this case, disaster will befall him." If you are not the son of heaven, you will not discuss the ritual system, formulate the system, and evaluate the words.
Now the conventions are unified, the words are unified, and the ethical concepts are unified. Although you have the status of the son of heaven, if you don't have the virtue of the son of heaven, don't easily adopt the system of rites and music. Although you have the virtue of being a son of heaven, if you don't have the status of being a son of heaven, don't easily adopt the system of rites and music. Confucius said, "I explained the etiquette of the Xia Dynasty, and the documents of Qi State are not enough for textual research.
I studied the etiquette of the Yin Dynasty, and only the Song State still kept it. I studied the etiquette of Zhou Dynasty, and now I'm practicing it. Therefore, I follow the etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty. "
Extended data:
The Creative Background of The Mean
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.