There are three main principles of the doctrine of the mean: one is self-study, the other is loyalty, forgiveness and tolerance, and the third is sincerity. And discussed below.
(1) Self-study with caution
This principle requires people to adhere to self-education, self-supervision and self-discipline in the process of self-cultivation. This principle was put forward in the first chapter of The Doctrine of the Mean. It says: "Those who are Tao can't leave for a moment, and those who are not Tao can leave. So a gentleman is wary of what he can't see, and fear is almost unheard of. Don't be invisible, don't be insignificant. Therefore, the gentleman is cautious and independent. " People must carry out self-cultivation strictly and consciously, especially when they are alone, and be cautious in self-reflection, self-discipline, self-education and self-supervision. Be very careful where others can't hear you, and don't say anything against morality; Where others can't see what they are doing, always keep the middle ground. To achieve truth, goodness and beauty, we must adhere to the principle of self-cultivation. Adhering to this principle is interesting, useful and useful. Therefore, Chapter 33 of the Doctrine of the Mean says: "The way of a gentleman is indifferent and tireless, elegant, gentle and reasonable. Knowing its distance, knowing its own wind and knowing its smallness can be compared with entering Germany. " "Poetry" said: "Although I dive, I am also enlightened by Confucius." Therefore, a gentleman is guilty of introspection and has no evil intentions. Those beyond the reach of a gentleman are invisible to others! The poem says,' It's worth peeing in your room.' Therefore, a gentleman does not respect others, but does not keep his word. "Poetry" says:' Play false words, argue when you are in a hurry.' Therefore, the gentleman does not reward the people, but advises the people, without being angry and threatening. "Poetry" says: "If you don't show your virtue, you will be punished. "Therefore, the gentleman respects and the world is flat." "Poetry" said:' To Huai Mingde, don't shout. Confucius said,' What wine and color educate the people is the end.' "Poetry" says:' Virtue? As hairy as wool. Mao still has a good relationship,' God is silent and there is no me'. Zhiyi! "
(2) Loyalty, forgiveness and tolerance
This principle requires that people care about each other, understand each other, love each other, do not hurt each other, be loyal, tolerant, kind and go hand in hand. This principle can be found in chapters 13 and 30 of The Doctrine of the Mean.
"Confucius said:' People are not far from the Tao. People who are far away from Tao can't be Tao. "Poetry" says: Wako Wako, not far away. There is still a long way to go to beat Ke. Therefore, a gentleman rules people by man, and that's it. Loyalty and forgiveness are not far from breaking the law. Don't do to others what you don't want. "
This thought originated from Confucius, and Ceng Zi generalized it and spread it all over the world. Liren's The Analects records what Confucius warned Ceng Zi: "My Tao is consistent." Other students asked Zeng Shen what this meant. Zeng Shen said, "The way of a master is loyalty and forgiveness." Loyalty and forgiveness are the side of benevolence. It is said that the core of Confucius' thought is loyalty and forgiveness, which means that the core of Confucius' thought is benevolence and benevolence. Confucius said that forgiveness means "don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you". "Benevolent people want to stand and stand, and they want to achieve. It can be said that the benevolent side has already existed. " The so-called "getting the moon by being close to the water" means caring for each other and the concrete implementation of the principle of loyalty and forgiveness.
The way of loyalty and forgiveness is called "the way of moments" in universities. "University" said: "If you are evil, don't (don't) make it worse. What is evil next, not in order. What is the evil of the future, not the evil of the past. The evil on the right should not be left to the left. If you are left evil, don't give it to right evil. This is the way of the moment. " This is the way of loyalty and forgiveness of "don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you". Whether it is loyalty or forbearance, its essence is kindness and fraternity, which requires people to "do to others what you don't want them to do to you" (The Analects of Confucius. Industrial field).
The Doctrine of the Mean inherits and develops Confucius' doctrine of loyalty and forgiveness and the doctrine of moderation in The University. Then, it puts forward "rule by man", which requires people to love others with their own hearts, blame themselves with their own hearts, and inspire, influence and shape people with their sincerity and loyalty. As long as we adhere to the principle of loyalty and forgiveness, people will live in harmony, and people will reach the ideological realm of going their own way, not being complacent, not complaining about others and not treating others. Therefore, The Doctrine of the Mean says: "A gentleman is willing to surpass his position. Prosperity, prosperity. Poor, poor. Flat shovel, close shovel. There's always trouble, always trouble. A gentleman is not complacent. Don't help superiors, don't help subordinates, and if you are right, don't complain or ask others. I don't complain, but I don't care about others. Therefore, a gentleman is easy to live in, and a villain is desperate and lucky. Confucius said,' shoot like a gentleman, not a mandarin fish, but also a body.' "
(3) Sincerity
The principle of sincerity is an important principle of the golden mean. "Only when the world is sincere can we do our best. If you can do your best, you can do your best; If you can make good use of human nature, you can make good use of things; If you can make the best use of it, you can praise the teaching of heaven and earth; If you can praise the cultivation of heaven and earth, you can go to heaven and earth. " Only by adhering to the principle of sincerity can we give full play to our kind nature. If you can exert your kind nature, you can influence others and exert their kind nature; If the goodness of all people can be brought into play, the goodness of all things can be brought into play; If we can give full play to the goodness of everything, we can participate in the cultivation of everything in heaven and earth. Reached the realm of benevolence and goodness; When you reach the realm of benevolence, you can rank third with heaven and earth. This is an ideal state achieved by adhering to the principle of sincerity. When this ideal state is reached, a person finds his real position in the universe.
Also ze "the middle way", which belongs to the category of ancient Greek philosophy, Pythagoras school regards existing things as "appropriate balance" between each other. Plato began to transplant this concept of balance into ethics, while Aristotle linked the doctrine of the mean with the doctrine of the mean, forming a systematic theory. It is believed that everything has its golden mean, such as the number "5" of "10"; In people's psychological state and emotions, excessive desire is debauchery, insufficient desire is abstinence, and moderation is moderation. There are two kinds of golden mean, the golden mean in nature is absolute, and the golden mean in personnel is relative; From the ethical point of view, all human behaviors have three states: excessive, insufficient and moderate. Excessive and insufficient are the characteristics of evil deeds, while only the doctrine of the mean is the characteristics and moral standards of virtue. Virtue is moderate and is aimed at intermediaries. He also applied this golden mean to the theory of political state. It is believed that the country governed by the middle class is the best, because it is the best to have moderate property and it is the easiest to follow reasonable principles. The polis is the most stable citizen class and middle-class citizen in the country. It is the city with the best structure and organization, so it is expected to be well governed.
The "golden mean" means neutralization, not mediocrity, but the pursuit of no loss, no gain, no retreat, no hurry, no arrogance, and the perfect balance between great wisdom in life and dealing with people.
The doctrine of the mean is the method of self-cultivation and the way of governing the country, which has always been valued by advanced politicians. Liang Qichao and Sun Yat-sen regarded them as national treasures. Mao Zedong's transformation of China also began with the transformation of the golden mean. He used "overcorrection" to guide the peasant movement and "going too far" to lead the Yan 'an rectification movement. The first sentence at the beginning of Mao Xuan is to distinguish between friends and enemies. Friends are between me and the enemy, and uniting friends is one of the magic weapons to defeat the enemy.
The progress and limitations of the golden mean are determined by the development level of productive forces at that time. And the rationality of the times is greater than the limitations of history. "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you" and "Be a man if you want to stand, and be a man if you want to achieve" once successfully docked with the belief of * * *, but now they have become the golden rule of universal ethics with their tenacious penetration into time and space. One country, two systems, a well-off society, advancing with the times and a harmonious world; Peace and development, competition and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win, and so on. Both contain the philosophy and strategy of the golden mean.
In Confucius' article, the device of sitting is called: deficiency means tendency, middle means righteousness, and fullness means moderation.
In fact, most people do not know why!
Looking back now, it is the loneliness and indifference of modern people in the "baptism" of money, and the ancient "wisdom" that has nothing to do with themselves in the "undercurrent" of China culture, which leads to the lack of traditional culture in China!
I have to feel sad! Sometimes you can look at foreigners who have studied Chinese for several years, and admire and admire some cultures in China! It seems that what China lacks is a cultural inspiration!
Everyone needs to work hard to save it!
If you move China, it is a good practical action of the mainstream media!