Publisher's Synopsis
The Doctrine of the Mean is a philosophical text written by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. It is one of the Four Books of Confucianism and is considered a central text in Confucian thought.The book is a collection of teachings and sayings that emphasize the importance of finding balance and harmony in all aspects of life. It teaches that the path to achieving this balance is through moderation and avoiding extremes. The Doctrine of the Mean also stresses the importance of self-cultivation and moral development in order to become a virtuous person.The text is divided into three parts, each exploring a different aspect of the doctrine. The first part discusses the nature of the doctrine and its relation to the principles of Confucianism. The second part focuses on the cultivation of personal character and the importance of self-reflection. The final part discusses the role of the ruler in maintaining social harmony and the importance of ethical leadership.Overall, The Doctrine of the Mean is a fundamental text in Confucianism that emphasizes the importance of balance, moderation, and moral development in achieving a harmonious society and personal fulfillment.While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
