Zhong Yong

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About this app

The Doctrine of the Mean was originally a chapter within The Book of Rites, traditionally attributed to Zisi. After Zhu Xi of the Song dynasty annotated it, it became one of the "Four Books," serving as a core Confucian text expounding the concepts of "central harmony," "sincerity," and "the Mandate of Heaven." The entire work elevates "the Mean" as the highest virtue, advocating an impartial wisdom of conduct that aligns with the Way of Heaven and Earth, exerting a profound influence on Chinese philosophy of mind-nature and personal cultivation practices.

"The Mean" is not about mediocre compromise; rather, it holds that "the Mean is the correct Way of all under Heaven; the Constant is the fixed principle of all under Heaven." It emphasizes adhering to the constant Way and exercising prudent appropriateness amidst a changing world. The text states, "Before the feelings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, and joy are aroused, it is called the Mean; when they are aroused and each attains its proper measure, it is called Harmony." It reveals the connection between individual mind-nature and the cosmic order with the assertion, "When the Mean and Harmony are realized, Heaven and Earth assume their proper positions, and all things are nurtured." Furthermore, it discusses sincerity as the bridge between Heaven and humanity: "Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; to attain sincerity is the Way of man."

The literary style of The Doctrine of the Mean is elegant and profound, offering both descriptions of the state of the sage and specific guidance for the cultivation of the exemplary person. Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Doctrine of the Mean elevated it to an important classic of Neo-Confucianism, from which later Confucians developed rich debates on human nature, moral effort, and spiritual realms.

As the most philosophically rich among the Four Books, The Doctrine of the Mean elevates ethical cultivation to a pursuit of harmony at the cosmological level. Reading this work allows one to grasp the deep meanings of Confucian concepts such as "vigilance in solitude," "central harmony," and "utmost sincerity," and to understand Chinese culture's enduring emphasis on balance, moderation, and inner reverence.

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