Chapter 5 Moderate in the fourth quarter

Benevolence and propriety are the principles of Confucius. To realize these principles in politics and daily life, there must be correct principles and methods.Confucius believed that this principle and method is the golden mean.What is mean?There are two meanings, so the mean is to use neutrality and neutrality as the normal way.The Yin people attached great importance to Zhongzheng, and regarded Zhongzheng as the way to govern the country.Zhou people attached great importance to neutrality and regarded harmony as the way to govern the country.After the Zhou people destroyed the Shang Dynasty, the Duke of Zhou paid attention to absorbing the political experience of the Yin people in governing China, and initially combined the two political concepts of neutrality and harmony.Confucius put forward the doctrine of the mean, and further combined neutralization into a unified value ideal and value standard.

From the meaning of Zhongzheng or Zhongzheng, Zhongyong requires that when dealing with anything, we must firmly grasp the neutrality that is impartial, without faults, and just right.Once Zigong asked Confucius how he evaluated the other two disciples.Confucius said, of these two people, one has passed and the other has not.Zigong asked, is it better than too late?Confucius said that excess is as bad as deficiency. ("Advanced") Therefore, the doctrine of the mean is to avoid excesses and deficiencies, and to "permit them". ("Yao Yue") Zhong is something between the two extremes or between the two ends. Only when the two ends are avoided can there be middle. But in order to avoid the two ends, the two ends must be grasped first.Confucius believed that Shun was an expert in using the mean, the key is that he was good at grasping both ends.Confucius said: "Take the two ends and use them for the people, and he thinks they are Shun!" ("Book of Rites · Doctrine") The two ends can be seen everywhere. ; There are too long and too simple to salute.After grasping the two ends, you can find the midpoint that is neither strict nor wide, neither heavy nor light, neither grand nor simple through measurement.As mentioned in the previous section, not eating for three days during the mourning period is a good example of holding dual purposes.Parents die, eat as usual, do not show anything, this is not enough, too much grief, seven days without food, ruin the body, this is too much, between the two, take three days without food, it is no less than no fault in the middle.

From the meaning of harmony or neutralization, the golden mean requires two or more correct and effective principles, ideas, strategies, plans, etc. to be properly reconciled, so that they are mutually integrated, complement each other, and restrict each other. To achieve a state of neutrality between the other and the other.For example, the two principles of benevolence and propriety, if one follows the idea of ​​neutrality, one cannot simply practice propriety without regard to benevolence, nor can one simply practice benevolence without regard for propriety. Restriction, what is implemented in this way is the neutralization of benevolence and propriety.Practicing benevolence and ritual neutralization means practicing both ritual and benevolence. Otherwise, these two principles cannot be implemented.So benevolence, propriety and moderation are actually the same thing.Different thoughts, opinions, and viewpoints in daily life should also use a moderate method to make them complement and restrict each other to achieve the most satisfactory combination.Don't take only one side and cancel the other side. For example, the monarch has an opinion, and the ministers originally have their own opinions, but they can't insist on it, and completely support the monarch's opinion.This is unity rather than harmony. The same is good on the surface, but in fact it hides the root of disaster. People in high positions, especially the monarch, are confused by the falsehood of one word and mistaken for right.Harmony includes debates of different opinions and direct remonstrance to the monarch. It doesn't look so good, but it can compromise different opinions, learn from each other's strengths, and avoid mistakes.Confucius said: "Gentlemen are harmonious but different, villains are the same but not harmonious." ("Zilu") is to ask people to talk about peace and differences for the sake of their careers, and not to disagree with each other for personal face and dignity or to flatter and invite pets.

Zilu once discussed with Confucius what is strong.Confucius believes that the real strength is the moral strength of the gentleman, not the strength of force of the strong.In the final analysis, morality lies in the mean, so the strength of a gentleman lies in the mean.He said: "A gentleman who is harmonious but not indifferent, is strong and correct! Neutral but not leaning, strong and correct!" ("Book of Rites · Doctrine") correct, describing the appearance of strong.Harmony without flow is to adhere to principles and not to merge with erroneous opinions. This is a principle that complements harmony without difference.Confucius believed that unswervingly adhering to the neutrality of neither this nor that and the neutrality of both this and that, that is, the golden mean, is the vocation of a gentleman and the guarantee for morality to be invincible.

However, the mean is not fixed, it will change with the change of conditions, so people must be good at finding the mean at that time when they act.Confucius said: "The gentleman is the mean, and the gentleman is the mean." ("Book of Rites·Zhongyong") The time is the mean formed by various conditions in the key points of action.Sticking to the dogma, comparing with the old practice, will often result in excess or insufficiency, the same or inconsistency; to grasp the golden mean at that time, we must combine the general principles of benevolence and propriety with the current principles.So the real moderation must be Shizhong.Confucius always acted according to the requirements of the times in his political and teaching process.For example, his answer to the question "Do what you hear?" ("Do you do it right away when you hear a truth?") varies from person to person.His reply to Zilu was, you have father and brother, you should listen to their opinions first, how can you act on what you have learned?The answer to Ran You was "Wear it and do it".Why has to be this way?Zilu is often reckless, trying to suppress his recklessness, Ran Youchang shrinks back, trying to muster his energy.After he combined the principle with the specific situation of different educational objects, he made it just right, which is Shizhong.

Is moderation an eclecticism?Eclecticism is a distortion of the golden mean, and the golden mean itself is not eclectic.The fundamental difference between the two is that the golden mean is principled, while eclecticism is not principled.What determines the middle of the mean?Confucius said: "Rites are more than rituals! Husband's rituals are governed by rituals." ("Book of Rites Zhongni Yanju") is determined by rituals, and it is also determined by benevolence.Therefore, the principles of the mean are benevolence and propriety.Eclecticism is unprincipled and goes with the wind. It insists on nothing and accommodates everything.What Confucius despised the most was the desire to make compromises.Xiangyuan seems to understand benevolence, righteousness, etiquette and music, but he never insists on actions, and instead joins in with all unjust and immoral things.Confucius said: "The wishes of the country are the thieves of virtue!" ("Mencius: Doing Your Heart") So not only is the mean not eclectic, but it is exactly against eclecticism.It is a historical misunderstanding to regard the mean as eclecticism.

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