Chapter IX
CONFUCIUS’S ZHÔNGVÕNG
中庸 (zhōngyōng) is one of four classic books of Chinese literature . Zhu Xi (1130 - 1200) in the Song dynasty selected as the basis for Chinese philosophy and Confucianism. Zhõngyõng was created by 子思Zisi (483-402), Confucius’ grandson, and took root in chapter 31st of Confucius’s Work entitled禮記 Lǐ Jì (The Book of Rites ).
This work consisted of two parts:
-The main part: (From chapter1 to chapter 20): Confucius’
teachings.
-The subordinate part (From chapter 21st to 33rd): Zisi ‘s opinions.
In Chinese, 中 means
middle, stable, not being inclined.At
the beginning of the book, Zhu Xi explained that中zhōng is not being inclined, 庸yōng is not variable.
Zhōngyōng is the middle path, the right way, and the scientific law of our world.[1]
Not being inclined means right, and middle also means not being extreme. In Chinese, 道means religion, direction; way; method; road; path; principle; truth; reason. Confucius said: I know we cannot go on our path because the wise men are excessive, while the stupid persons insufficient[2].
Thus, excessiveness and insufficiency are two extremes we must avoid, and Zhõngyõng means the moderation. Zhõngyõng also the doctrine of ’Mean" which emphasizes moderation is that people can not leave the moment, but to implement the "golden mean", must also respect the gift of nature, acquired through learning.
Confucius said: Zhōngyōng is the great origin, and the great path of
humankind. Attaining Zhõngyõng, our
world will be peaceful, and every thing developed.[3]
According to Confucius, it is very difficult to
follow the Middle path[4].
Only the gentlemen could practice doctrine of
Mean when the bad guys opposed it.[5]
While following doctrine of
Moderation, what do we do?
1. First of all, we must do good.
-King Shun: In childhood ,his
mother died,.Shun usually obey their parents, concerned about his little brother, he
was a wiser man, do good, and following moderation[6]
2-Yen Hui, , a good follow, the man is back: choose almost
moderate, was a good, adhering to the Sincerit[7] Moreover,
the
gentlemen must live happily in any situation [8].
-3.Practicing
the humanity and duty to everybody in our
family and community. Show our respect to our
parents,
our
sympathy to our wife and children, and kindness to
brothers
and friends[9]
.
In a word, Buddha’s Middle Path and Confucius’ Moderation
are the same. Both doctrines lead people to the right way, the morality
and keep off the extremes.
Chapter X
THE DANGERS OF
EXTREMISM
A painting or a song is the
harmony of the colors or the sounds. So is our world. The Middle path was the
common view of the Buddha and Confucius . It is the method to build a
harmonious and peaceful society. The Buddha gave his followers an example of a
bow and a bird. Laozi dreamed of a harmonious world :
"
Being and nothing give birth to one another,
Hard
and easy are mutually formed,
Long
and short exist from a contrast
High
and low complement each other,
Music
and voice are harmonize with each other,
Front
and back follow one another.
有無相生,
難易相成,
長短相形,
高下相傾,
音聲相和,
前後相隨.(Tao
Te Ching. chapter 2)
Extremism contrast with with
middle path, rightness, peace and development. it will lead people to failure
and unhappiness. In our world, there are many extremist theories and actions in
politics, religion, education and economy.
Some students focused on
science and neglected morality, therefore Rabelais criticized this education :
« Science sans conscience n'est que ruine de l'âme ».Other
students preferred the development of mind than the development of body,so
Latin scholar said , "Mens sane in corpore sana." (A healthy mind in
a healthy body)."
In many countries, people
consisted of every bodies without discrimination for religion, race, gender or
social class when the others emphasized the class struggle. This theory has
caused the fatal war in our world nearly a century. In our world, some
theorists praised the role of cultivators or the traders in society, when other
philosophers highlighted the workers in the revolution. They also liked the
manual labors and disliked the intellectual workers. In some countries, the
private property is forbidden. All of those theories are partial and caused
damages to people and society.
These theories and actions are
false and easily changed from this extreme to other extreme. Some peoples
criticized the individualistic ideology, the capitalism
exploiting, and the monarchy's hereditary but in fact they practiced personality cult, they
became the red capitalists, and followed the monarchy hereditary.
These
theories and actions are contrary to the humanity, science and democracy
therefore people revolted against the brutal authorities. Before
the protest of people, the dictators tried to kill, imprison
and terrorize people. Extremism is character of brutal regime and the tyrants.
Middle
path is the best way to build the nation and the world on the humanity,
democracy,and freedom.The Middle path is the way to peace and development.
[8] 君 子 素 其 位 而 行; 不 愿 乎 其 外. 素 富 貴, 行 乎 富 貴. 素 貧 賤, 行 乎 貧 賤. 素 夷 狄, 行 乎 夷 狄. 素 患 難, 行 乎 患 難. 君 子 無 入 而 不 自 得 焉. 在 上 位, 不 陵 下; 在 下 位, 不 援 上.(Ch.14)
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