Zhong yong confucius biography

Central doctrine of Confucianism

"Zhongyong" redirects here. For the ruler of Wu, see Zhongyong of Wu.

This article is about the Confucian Doctrine of the Mean.

For the Aristotelian Doctrine of the Mean, see Nicomachean Ethics.

The Doctrine of the Mean or Zhongyong is one of the Four Books of classical Chinese philosophy and a central doctrine of Confucianism.

Zhong yong confucius biography wikipedia

The text is attributed to Zisi (Kong Ji), the only grandson of Confucius (Kong Zi). It was originally a chapter in the Classic of Rites.

The phrase "doctrine of the mean" occurs in Book VI, verse 29 of the Analects of Confucius, which states:

The Master [Confucius] said, The virtue embodied in the doctrine of the Mean is of the highest order.

But it has long been rare among people

—&#;Analects, (Burton Watson tr.)

The Analects never expands on what this term means, but Zisi's text, The Doctrine of the Mean, explores its meaning in detail, as well as how to apply it to on