It means: to reach a broad and broad realm while going deep into the subtleties, to reach extreme brilliance while following the golden mean.

Source: "The Doctrine of the Mean"

Selections from "The Doctrine of the Mean":

Great, the way of the saint! It is vast, develops all things, and is as high as the sky. Youyou are great! Three hundred etiquette, three thousand dignity. Wait for the person and then do it. Therefore, it is said: If you can't be virtuous, you can't reach the right path. Therefore, a gentleman respects virtue and pursues learning.

To the vast and subtle. Extremely wise and moderate. Review the old to learn the new, be honest and sincere to respect etiquette. This means that if the people above are not arrogant, the people below should not be inferior; if a country has the Way, its words will be enough to prosper; if the country has no Way, its silence will be enough to tolerate it. "Poetry" says: "Being clear and philosophical, in order to protect his body." This is called with!

Confucius said: "A person who is foolish but loves his own use, who is cheap but loves to be self-absorbed, lives in today's world and opposes the ancient ways: such a person will bring disaster to his body." If you are not the Son of Heaven, you will not discuss etiquette. No system, no examination of writing.

Today we get off the train on the same track, write the same article, and walk on the same topic. Although he has his position, he does not have his virtues and dares not perform rituals and music. Even though he has his virtues. If you don't have your position, you won't dare to perform rituals and music. Confucius said: "My talk about Xia rites is not enough. I learned the Yin rites, which are preserved in the Song Dynasty. I learned the Zhou rites and use them now. I follow the Zhou."

Translation:

Great, the way of the saints. It is vast, growing and developing all things, and is as tall as the sky. It is sufficient and great, with three hundred etiquettes and three thousand majestic rituals, waiting for the saint to appear before they can be implemented. Therefore, if the highest level of morality cannot be achieved, the highest level of Tao will not succeed.

Therefore, a gentleman should respect virtue, be good at learning and ask questions, reach a broad and broad realm while going deep into the subtleties, reach extreme brilliance while following the golden mean. Review what you have learned in the past to gain new understanding, and respect etiquette with a simple and kind attitude.

In this way, you will not be proud when you are in power, and you will not betray yourself when you are in power. When the country's politics is clear, strive to have your ideas accepted and adopted; when the country's politics is dark, keep silent to protect yourself. This is what the saying in the Book of Songs, "Be both enlightened and intelligent, can protect yourself", right?

Confucius said: "A person who is stupid but only acts based on subjective intentions, a humble person who likes to be arbitrary, lives in the present era, but wants to restore the ancient practices, in this case, disaster will befall him. "If you are not the emperor, you will not discuss etiquette, formulate systems, or examine writing."

Now the world is unified in its patterns, words and ethical concepts. Although you have the status of an emperor, if you don't have the virtues of an emperor, you should not make rituals and music easily. Although you have the virtues of an emperor, if you don't have the status of an emperor, you should not easily make rituals and music. Confucius said: "I explained the etiquette of the Xia Dynasty, but the documents of Qi State are not enough to verify it.

I studied the etiquette of the Yin Dynasty, and only the Song Dynasty maintained it. I studied the etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty, and now I am studying it. I practice it, so I follow the etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty."

Extended information:

The creative background of "The Doctrine of the Mean"

"The Doctrine of the Mean" comes from "The Doctrine of the Mean". "Book of Rites" was originally the 31st of the 49 chapters in the "Book of Rites". "Book of Rites" was originally called "Book of Rites of Xiao Dai", also known as "Ji of Xiao Dai". It was compiled by Dai Sheng, a man of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, based on a group of anonymous Confucian works left over from history.

Before the Song Dynasty, scholars all believed that "The Doctrine of the Mean" was written by Zisi during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Sima Qian's "Historical Records: The Family of Confucius": "Zisi wrote "The Doctrine of the Mean"." Li Ao's "Collection of Li Wengong·Fu Xing Shu": "Ziusi wrote forty-seven chapters of "The Doctrine of the Mean" and passed it down to Meng Ke." Zhu Xi's "The Doctrine of the Mean" Chapter · Preface: "Why was the Doctrine of the Mean written? Zisi wrote it because he was worried about the loss of Taoism."

Since the Song Dynasty, some scholars have argued that "The Doctrine of the Mean" is the work of Zisi and the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is composed of miscellaneous accounts by contemporary Confucian scholars. Ouyang Xiu's "Asking Jinshi Strategies": "Question: The books on ritual and music are scattered, and they are mixed with the theories of Confucianism. Only "The Doctrine of the Mean" comes from Zisi. Zisi is a descendant of the saints, so what he preaches should be true, and Why is his statement different from that of a sage?"

Ye Shi's "Preface to the Notes on Learning·Wenjian III": "Although the Han people say that "The Doctrine of the Mean" was written by Zi Si, I doubt it if I use it to test it. It is not exclusively from Zisi." There are many people in the Qing Dynasty who believed that "The Doctrine of the Mean" was not written by Zisi, especially Cui Shu, who put forward three arguments to prove his opinion in the third volume of his "Zhu Si Kao Xin Lu". point of view.

Nowadays, people such as Feng Youlan, Qian Mu, Lao Siguang, etc. also argue that "The Doctrine of the Mean" was not written by Zisi from the aspects of literature and thought.

The above two views have their own basis. The current academic circles generally believe that "The Doctrine of the Mean" was written by Zisi and many of his disciples.