Doctrine of the Mean - Definition and Overview

The Doctrine of the Mean (中庸, py Zhōngyōng) is one of the Four Books, part of the Confucian canonical scriptures.

Like the Great Learning, it is now part of the Records of Rites. It is said to be a composition by Confucius' grandson Kong Ji (孔伋), called Zisi (子思).

The purpose of this small, 23-chapter book is to demonstrate the usefulness of a golden way to gain perfect virtue. It focuses on the "way" (dào, 道) that is prescribed by a heavenly mandate not only to the ruler but to everyone. To follow these heavenly instructions by learning and teaching will automatically result in a Confucian virtue. Because Heaven has laid down what is the way to perfect virtue, it is not that difficult to follow the steps of the holy rulers of old if one only knows what is the right way.

中庸, Zhong yong, is also translated as:

• the Mean (D.C. Lau)
• the Constant Mean (Huang, James Legge)
• the Middle Way (Simon Leys)
• the Middle Use (Arthur Waley)
• the Common Centrality (Tu Wei ming)
• the Unwobbling Pivot, or the Pivot (Ezra Pound).

External links

• English translation, by Charles Muller (http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/docofmean.htm)
• excerpts of the Doctrine of the Mean (http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/zhongyong.html) at Chinaknowledge (http://www.chinaknowledge.de)
• full text (http://www.nothingistic.org/library/confucius/mean/) at Nothingistic (http://www.nothingistic.org).