THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN中庸參考資料

THEDOCTRINEOFTHEMEAN

ThistranslationofTheDoctrineoftheMean,ZhongYong,isbyJamesLegge,inTheChineseClassics,vol.1(reprintedbyHongKongUniversityPress,1960).Legge'sromanizationhasbeenturnedintopinyin.Somesmallchangesinpunctuationand(inaveryfewplaces)vocabularyhavealsobeenmade.

Thetextisinthepublicdomainandmaybefreelyused.

Comments,corrections,andsuggestionsmaybedirectedtoBrotherAndrewThorntonatthisaddress:

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WhatHeavenhasconferrediscalledTheNature;anaccordancewiththisnatureiscalledThePathofduty;theregulationofthispathiscalledInstruction.

Thepathmaynotbeleftforaninstant.Ifitcouldbeleft,itwouldnotbethepath.Onthisaccount,thesuperiormandoesnotwaittillheseesthings,tobecautious,nortillhehearsthings,tobeapprehensive.

Thereisnothingmorevisiblethanwhatissecret,andnothingmoremanifestthanwhatisminute.Thereforethesuperiormaniswatchfuloverhimself,whenheisalone.

Whiletherearenostirringsofpleasure,anger,sorrow,orjoy,themindmaybesaidtobeinthestateofEquilibrium.Whenthosefeelingshavebeenstirred,andtheyactintheirduedegree,thereensueswhatmaybecalledthestateofHarmony.ThisEquilibriumisthegreatrootfromwhichgrowallthehumanactingsintheworld,andthisHarmonyistheuniversalpathwhichtheyallshouldpursue.Letthestatesofequilibriumandharmonyexistinperfection,andahappyorderwillprevailthroughoutheavenandearth,andallthingswillbenourishedandflourish.

ZhongNi[Confucius]said,"ThesuperiormanembodiesthecourseoftheMean;themeanmanactscontrarytothecourseoftheMean."Thesuperiorman'sembodyingthecourseoftheMeanisbecauseheisasuperiorman,andsoalwaysmaintainstheMean.Themeanman'sactingcontrarytothecourseoftheMeanisbecauseheisameanman,andhasnocaution."

TheMastersaid,"PerfectisthevirtuewhichisaccordingtotheMean!Rarehavetheylongbeenamongthepeople,whocouldpracticeit!

TheMastersaid,"IknowhowitisthatthepathoftheMeanisnotwalkedin:-Theknowinggobeyondit,andthestupiddonotcomeuptoit.IknowhowitisthatthepathoftheMeanisnotunderstood:Themenoftalentsandvirtuegobeyondit,andtheworthlessdonotcomeuptoit.

"Thereisnobodybuteatsanddrinks.Buttheyarefewwhocandistinguishflavors."

TheMastersaid,"Alas!HowisthepathoftheMeanuntrodden!"

TheMastersaid,"TherewasShun:Heindeedwasgreatlywise!Shunlovedtoquestionothers,andtostudytheirwords,thoughtheymightbeshallow.Heconcealedwhatwasbadinthemanddisplayedwhatwasgood.Hetookholdoftheirtwoextremes,determinedtheMean,andemployeditinhisgovernmentofthepeople.ItwasbythisthathewasShun!"

TheMastersaid"Menallsay,'Wearewise';butbeingdrivenforwardandtakeninanet,atrap,orapitfall,theyknownothowtoescape.Menallsay,'Wearewise';buthappeningtochoosethecourseoftheMean,theyarenotabletokeepitforaroundmonth."

TheMastersaid"ThiswasthemannerofHui:hemadechoiceoftheMean,andwheneverhegotholdofwhatwasgood,heclaspeditfirmly,asifwearingitonhisbreast,anddidnotloseit."

TheMastersaid,"Thekingdom,itsstates,anditsfamilies,maybeperfectlyruled;dignitiesandemolumentsmaybedeclined;nakedweaponsmaybetrampledunderthefeet;butthecourseoftheMeancannotbeattainedto."

ZiLuaskedaboutenergy.TheMastersaid,"DoyoumeantheenergyoftheSouth,theenergyoftheNorth,ortheenergywhichyoushouldcultivateyourself?"Toshowforbearanceandgentlenessinteachingothers;andnottorevengeunreasonableconduct:thisistheenergyofsouthernregions,andthegoodmanmakesithisstudy.

"Tolieunderarms;andmeetdeathwithoutregret:thisistheenergyofnorthernregions,andtheforcefulmakeittheirstudy."Therefore,thesuperiormancultivatesafriendlyharmony,withoutbeingweak.Howfirmisheinhisenergy!Hestandserectinthemiddle,withoutincliningtoeitherside.Howfirmisheinhisenergy!Whengoodprinciplesprevailinthegovernmentofhiscountry,hedoesnotchangefromwhathewasinretirement.Howfirmisheinhisenergy!Whenbadprinciplesprevailinthecountry,hemaintainshiscoursetodeathwithoutchanging.Howfirmisheinhisenergy!"

TheMastersaid,"Toliveinobscurity,andyetpracticewonders,inordertobementionedwithhonorinfutureages:thisiswhatIdonotdo.

"Thegoodmantriestoproceedaccordingtotherightpath,butwhenhehasgonehalfway,heabandonsit.Iamnotablesotostop.

"ThesuperiormanaccordswiththecourseoftheMean.Thoughhemaybeallunknown,unregardedbytheworld,hefeelsnoregret.Itisonlythesagewhoisableforthis."

Thewaywhichthesuperiormanpursues,reacheswideandfar,andyetissecret.

Commonmenandwomen,howeverignorant,mayintermeddlewiththeknowledgeofit;yetinitsutmostreaches,thereisthatwhicheventhesagedoesnotknow.Commonmenandwomen,howevermuchbelowtheordinarystandardofcharacter,cancarryitintopractice;yetinitsutmostreaches,thereisthatwhicheventhesageisnotabletocarryintopractice.Greatasheavenandearthare,menstillfindsomethingsinthemwithwhichtobedissatisfied.Thusitisthat,werethesuperiormantospeakofhiswayinallitsgreatness,nothingintheworldwouldbefoundabletoembraceit,andwerehetospeakofitinitsminuteness,nothingintheworldwouldbefoundabletosplitit.

ItissaidintheBookofPoetry,"Thehawkfliesuptoheaven;thefishesleapinthedeep."Thisexpresseshowthiswayisseenaboveandbelow.

Thewayofthesuperiormanmaybefound,initssimpleelements,intheintercourseofcommonmenandwomen;butinitsutmostreaches,itshinesbrightlythroughHeavenandearth.

TheMastersaid"Thepathisnotfarfromman.Whenmentrytopursueacourse,whichisfarfromthecommonindicationsofconsciousness,thiscoursecannotbeconsideredThePath.

"IntheBookofPoetry,itissaid,'Inhewinganaxhandle,inhewinganaxhandle,thepatternisnotfaroff.Wegrasponeaxhandletohewtheother;andyet,ifwelookaskancefromtheonetotheother,wemayconsiderthemasapart.Therefore,thesuperiormangovernsmen,accordingtotheirnature,withwhatispropertothem,andassoonastheychangewhatiswrong,hestops.

"Whenonecultivatestotheutmosttheprinciplesofhisnature,andexercisesthemontheprincipleofreciprocity,heisnotfarfromthepath.Whatyoudonotlikewhendonetoyourself,donotdotoothers.

"Inthewayofthesuperiormantherearefourthings,tonotoneofwhichhaveIasyetattained:Toservemyfather,asIwouldrequiremysontoserveme:tothisIhavenotattained;toservemyprinceasIwouldrequiremyministertoserveme:tothisIhavenotattained;toservemyelderbrotherasIwouldrequiremyyoungerbrothertoserveme:tothisIhavenotattained;tosettheexampleinbehavingtoafriend,asIwouldrequirehimtobehavetome:tothisIhavenotattained.Earnestinpracticingtheordinaryvirtues,andcarefulinspeakingaboutthem,if,inhispractice,hehasanythingdefective,thesuperiormandaresnotbutexerthimself;andif,inhiswords,hehasanyexcess,hedaresnotallowhimselfsuchlicense.Thushiswordshaverespecttohisactions,andhisactionshaverespecttohiswords;isitnotjustanentiresinceritywhichmarksthesuperiorman?"

Thesuperiormandoeswhatispropertothestationinwhichheis;hedoesnotdesiretogobeyondthis.

Inapositionofwealthandhonor,hedoeswhatispropertoapositionofwealthandhonor.Inapoorandlowposition,hedoeswhatispropertoapoorandlowposition.Situatedamongbarbaroustribes,hedoeswhatispropertoasituationamongbarbaroustribes.Inapositionofsorrowanddifficulty,hedoeswhatispropertoapositionofsorrowanddifficulty.Thesuperiormancanfindhimselfinnosituationinwhichheisnothimself.

Inahighsituation,hedoesnottreatwithcontempthisinferiors.Inalowsituation,hedoesnotcourtthefavorofhissuperiors.Herectifieshimself,andseeksfornothingfromothers,sothathehasnodissatisfactions.HedoesnotmurmuragainstHeaven,norgrumbleagainstmen.

Thusitisthatthesuperiormanisquietandcalm,waitingfortheappointmentsofHeaven,whilethemeanmanwalksindangerouspaths,lookingforluckyoccurrences.

TheMastersaid,"Inarcherywehavesomethinglikethewayofthesuperiorman.Whenthearchermissesthecenterofthetarget,heturnsroundandseeksforthecauseofhisfailureinhimself."

Thewayofthesuperiormanmaybecomparedtowhattakesplaceintraveling,whentogotoadistancewemustfirsttraversethespacethatisnear,andinascendingaheight,whenwemustbeginfromthelowerground.

ItissaidintheBookofPoetry,"Happyunionwithwifeandchildrenislikethemusicoflutesandharps.Whenthereisconcordamongbrethren,theharmonyisdelightfulandenduring.Thusmayyouregulateyourfamily,andenjoythepleasureofyourwifeandchildren."

TheMastersaid,"Insuchastateofthings,parentshaveentirecomplacence!"

TheMastersaid,"Howabundantlydospiritualbeingsdisplaythepowersthatbelongtothem!Welookforthem,butdonotseethem;welistento,butdonothearthem;yettheyenterintoallthings,andthereisnothingwithoutthem.Theycauseallthepeopleinthekingdomtofastandpurifythemselves,andarraythemselvesintheirrichestdresses,inordertoattendattheirsacrifices.Then,likeoverflowingwater,theyseemtobeovertheheads,andontherightandleftoftheirworshippers.ItissaidintheBookofPoetry,'Theapproachesofthespirits,youcannotsunrise;andcanyoutreatthemwithindifference?'Suchisthemanifestnessofwhatisminute!Suchistheimpossibilityofrepressingtheoutgoingsofsincerity!"

TheMastersaid,"HowgreatlyfilialwasShun!Hisvirtuewasthatofasage;hisdignitywasthethrone;hisricheswereallwithinthefourseas.Heofferedhissacrificesinhisancestraltemple,andhisdescendantspreservedthesacrificestohimself.

"Thereforehavingsuchgreatvirtue,itcouldnotbutbethatheshouldobtainthethrone,thatheshouldobtainthoseriches,thatheshouldobtainhisfame,thatheshouldattaintohislonglife.

"ThusitisthatHeaven,intheproductionofthings,issuretobebountifultothem,accordingtotheirqualities.Hencethetreethatisflourishing,itnourishes,whilethatwhichisreadytofall,itoverthrows.

"IntheBookofPoetry,itissaid,'Theadmirableamiableprincedisplayedconspicuouslyhisexcellingvirtue,adjustinghispeople,andadjustinghisofficers.Therefore,hereceivedfromHeavenhisemolumentsofdignity.Itprotectedhim,assistedhim,decreedhimthethrone;sendingfromHeaventhesefavors,asitwererepeatedly.'

"WemaysaythereforethathewhoisgreatlyvirtuouswillbesuretoreceivetheappointmentofHeaven."

TheMastersaid,"ItisonlyKingWenofwhomitcanbesaidthathehadnocauseforgrief!HisfatherwasKingJi,andhissonwasKingWu.Hisfatherlaidthefoundationsofhisdignity,andhissontransmittedit.

"KingWucontinuedtheenterpriseofKingTai,KingJi,andKingWen.Heoncebuckledonhisarmor,andgotpossessionofthekingdom.Hedidnotlosethedistinguishedpersonalreputationwhichhehadthroughoutthekingdom.Hisdignitywastheroyalthrone.Hisricheswerethepossessionofallwithinthefourseas.Heofferedhissacrificesinhisancestraltemple,andhisdescendantsmaintainedthesacrificestohimself.

"ItwasinhisoldagethatKingWureceivedtheappointmenttothethrone,andthedukeofZhoucompletedthevirtuouscourseofWenandWu.HecarriedupthetitleofkingtoTaiandJi,andsacrificedtoalltheformerdukesabovethemwiththeroyalceremonies.Andthisruleheextendedtotheprincesofthekingdom,thegreatofficers,thescholars,andthecommonpeople.Ifthefatherwereagreatofficerandthesonascholar,thentheburialwasthatduetoagreatofficer,andthesacrificethatduetoascholar.Ifthefatherwereascholarandthesonagreatofficer,thentheburialwasthatduetoascholar,andthesacrificethatduetoagreatofficer.Theoneyear'smourningwasmadetoextendonlytothegreatofficers,butthethreeyears'mourningextendedtotheSonofHeaven.Inthemourningforafatherormother,heallowednodifferencebetweenthenobleandthemean.

TheMastersaid,"Howfar-extendingwasthefilialpietyofKingWuandthedukeofZhou!Nowfilialpietyisseenintheskillfulcarryingoutofthewishesofourforefathers,andtheskillfulcarryingforwardoftheirundertakings.Inspringandautumn,theyrepairedandbeautifiedthetemplehallsoftheirfathers,setforththeirancestralvessels,displayedtheirvariousrobes,andpresentedtheofferingsoftheseveralseasons.

"Bymeansoftheceremoniesoftheancestraltemple,theydistinguishedtheroyalkindredaccordingtotheirorderofdescent.Byorderingthepartiespresentaccordingtotheirrank,theydistinguishedthemorenobleandtheless.Bythearrangementoftheservices,theymadeadistinctionoftalentsandworth.Intheceremonyofgeneralpledging,theinferiorspresentedthecuptotheirsuperiors,andthussomethingwasgiventhelowesttodo.Attheconcludingfeast,placesweregivenaccordingtothehair,andthuswasmadethedistinctionofyears.

"Theyoccupiedtheplacesoftheirforefathers,practicedtheirceremonies,andperformedtheirmusic.Theyreverencedthosewhomtheyhonored,andlovedthosewhomtheyregardedwithaffection.Thustheyservedthedeadastheywouldhaveservedthemalive;theyservedthedepartedastheywouldhaveservedthemhadtheybeencontinuedamongthem.

"BytheceremoniesofthesacrificestoHeavenandEarththeyservedGod,andbytheceremoniesoftheancestraltempletheysacrificedtotheirancestors.HewhounderstandstheceremoniesofthesacrificestoHeavenandEarth,andthemeaningoftheseveralsacrificestoancestors,wouldfindthegovernmentofakingdomaseasyastolookintohispalm!"

TheDukeAiaskedaboutgovernment.TheMastersaid,"ThegovernmentofWenandWuisdisplayedintheRecords:thetabletsofwoodandbamboo.Lettherebethemenandthegovernmentwillflourish;butwithoutthemen,theirgovernmentdecaysandceases.

"Withtherightmenthegrowthofgovernmentisrapid,justasvegetationisrapidintheearth;and,moreover,theirgovernmentmightbecalledaneasily-growingrush.

"Thereforetheadministrationofgovernmentliesingettingpropermen.Suchmenaretobegotbymeansoftheruler'sowncharacter.Thatcharacteristobecultivatedbyhistreadinginthewaysofduty.Andthetreadingthosewaysofdutyistobecultivatedbythecherishingofbenevolence.

"Benevolenceisthecharacteristicelementofhumanity,andthegreatexerciseofitisinlovingrelatives.Righteousnessistheaccordanceofactionswithwhatisright,andthegreatexerciseofitisinhonoringtheworthy.Thedecreasingmeasuresoftheloveduetorelatives,andthestepsinthehonorduetotheworthy,areproducedbytheprincipleofpropriety.

"Whenthoseininferiorsituationsdonotpossesstheconfidenceoftheirsuperiors,theycannotretainthegovernmentofthepeople."Hencethesovereignmaynotneglectthecultivationofhisowncharacter.Wishingtocultivatehischaracter,hemaynotneglecttoservehisparents.Inordertoservehisparents,hemaynotneglecttoacquireknowledgeofmen.Inordertoknowmen,hemaynotdispensewithaknowledgeofHeaven.

"Thedutiesofuniversalobligationarefiveandthevirtueswherewiththeyarepracticedarethree.Thedutiesarethosebetweensovereignandminister,betweenfatherandson,betweenhusbandandwife,betweenelderbrotherandyounger,andthosebelongingtotheintercourseoffriends.Thosefivearethedutiesofuniversalobligation.Knowledge,magnanimity,andenergy,thesethree,arethevirtuesuniversallybinding.Andthemeansbywhichtheycarrythedutiesintopracticeissingleness.

"Somearebornwiththeknowledgeofthoseduties;someknowthembystudy;andsomeacquiretheknowledgeafterapainfulfeelingoftheirignorance.Buttheknowledgebeingpossessed,itcomestothesamething.Somepracticethemwithanaturalease;somefromadesirefortheiradvantages;andsomebystrenuouseffort.Buttheachievementbeingmade,itcomestothesamething."

TheMastersaid,"Tobefondoflearningistobeneartoknowledge.Topracticewithvigoristobeneartomagnanimity.Topossessthefeelingofshameistobeneartoenergy.

"Hewhoknowsthesethreethingsknowshowtocultivatehisowncharacter.Knowinghowtocultivatehisowncharacter,heknowshowtogovernothermen.Knowinghowtogovernothermen,heknowshowtogovernthekingdomwithallitsstatesandfamilies.

"Allwhohavethegovernmentofthekingdomwithitsstatesandfamilieshaveninestandardrulestofollow:thecultivationoftheirowncharacters;thehonoringofmenofvirtueandtalents;affectiontowardstheirrelatives;respecttowardsthegreatministers;kindandconsideratetreatmentofthewholebodyofofficers;dealingwiththemassofthepeopleaschildren;encouragingtheresortofallclassesofartisans;indulgenttreatmentofmenfromadistance;andthekindlycherishingoftheprincesofthestates.

"Bytheruler'scultivationofhisowncharacter,thedutiesofuniversalobligationaresetforth.Byhonoringmenofvirtueandtalents,heispreservedfromerrorsofjudgment.Byshowingaffectiontohisrelatives,thereisnogrumblingnorresentmentamonghisunclesandbrethren.Byrespectingthegreatministers,heiskeptfromerrorsinthepracticeofgovernment.Bykindandconsideratetreatmentofthewholebodyofofficers,theyareledtomakethemostgratefulreturnforhiscourtesies.Bydealingwiththemassofthepeopleashischildren,theyareledtoexhortoneanothertowhatisgood.Byencouragingtheresortofanclassesofartisans,hisresourcesforexpenditurearerenderedample.Byindulgenttreatmentofmenfromadistance,theyarebroughttoresorttohimfromallquarters.Andbykindlycherishingtheprincesofthestates,thewholekingdomisbroughttoreverehim.

"Self-adjustmentandpurification,withcarefulregulationofhisdress,andthenotmakingamovementcontrarytotherulesofproprietythisisthewayforarulertocultivatehisperson.Discardingslanderers,andkeepinghimselffromtheseductionsofbeauty;makinglightofriches,andgivinghonortovirtue--thisisthewayforhimtoencouragemenofworthandtalents.Givingthemplacesofhonorandlargeemolument.andsharingwiththemintheirlikesanddislikes--thisisthewayforhimtoencouragehisrelativestolovehim.Givingthemnumerousofficerstodischargetheirordersandcommissions:-thisisthewayforhimtoencouragethegreatministers.Accordingtothemagenerousconfidence,andmakingtheiremolumentslarge--thisisthewaytoencouragethebodyofofficers.Employingthemonlyatthepropertimes,andmakingtheimpostslight--thisisthewaytoencouragethepeople.Bydailyexaminationsandmonthlytrials,andbymakingtheirrationsinaccordancewiththeirlabors--thisisthewaytoencouragetheclassesofartisans.Toescortthemontheirdepartureandmeetthemontheircoming;tocommendthegoodamongthem,andshowcompassiontotheincompetent--thisisthewaytotreatindulgentlymenfromadistance.Torestorefamilieswhoselineofsuccessionhasbeenbroken,andtorevivestatesthathavebeenextinguished;toreducetoorderstatesthatareinconfusion,andsupportthosewhichareinperil;tohavefixedtimesfortheirownreceptionatcourt,andthereceptionoftheirenvoys;tosendthemawayafterliberaltreatment,andwelcometheircomingwithsmallcontribution--thisisthewaytocherishtheprincesofthestates.

"Allwhohavethegovernmentofthekingdomwithitsstatesandfamilieshavetheaboveninestandardrules.Andthemeansbywhichtheyarecarriedintopracticeissingleness.

"Inallthingssuccessdependsonpreviouspreparation,andwithoutsuchpreviouspreparationthereissuretobefailure.Ifwhatistobespokenbepreviouslydetermined,therewillbenostumbling.Ifaffairsbepreviouslydetermined,therewillbenodifficultywiththem.Ifone'sactionshavebeenpreviouslydetermined,therewillbenosorrowinconnectionwiththem.Ifprinciplesofconducthavebeenpreviouslydetermined,thepracticeofthemwillbeinexhaustible.

"Whenthoseininferiorsituationsdonotobtaintheconfidenceofthesovereign,theycannotsucceedingoverningthepeople.Thereisawaytoobtaintheconfidenceofthesovereign;ifoneisnottrustedbyhisfriends,hewillnotgettheconfidenceofhissovereign.Thereisawaytobeingtrustedbyone'sfriends;ifoneisnotobedienttohisparents,hewillnotbetruetofriends.Thereisawaytobeingobedienttoone'sparents;ifone,onturninghisthoughtsinuponhimself,findsawantofsincerity,hewillnotbeobedienttohisparents.Thereisawaytotheattainmentofsincerityinone'sself;ifamandonotunderstandwhatisgood,hewillnotattainsincerityinhimself.

"SincerityisthewayofHeaven.Theattainmentofsincerityisthewayofmen.Hewhopossessessincerityishewho,withoutaneffort,hitswhatisright,andapprehends,withouttheexerciseofthought:heisthesagewhonaturallyandeasilyembodiestherightway.Hewhoattainstosincerityishewhochooseswhatisgood,andfirmlyholdsitfast.

"Tothisattainmenttherearerequisitetheextensivestudyofwhatisgood,accurateinquiryaboutit,carefulreflectiononit,thecleardiscriminationofit,andtheearnestpracticeofit.

"Thesuperiorman,whilethereisanythinghehasnotstudied,orwhileinwhathehasstudiedthereisanythinghecannotunderstand,Willnotintermithislabor.Whilethereisanythinghehasnotinquiredabout,oranythinginwhathehasinquiredaboutwhichhedoesnotknow,hewillnotintermithislabor.Whilethereisanythingwhichhehasnotreflectedon,oranythinginwhathehasreflectedonwhichhedoesnotapprehend,hewillnotintermithislabor.Whilethereisanythingwhichhehasnotdiscriminatedorhisdiscriminationisnotclear,hewillnotintermithislabor.Iftherebeanythingwhichhehasnotpracticed,orhispracticefailsinearnestness,hewillnotintermithislabor.Ifanothermansucceedbyoneeffort,hewilluseahundredefforts.Ifanothermansucceedbytenefforts,hewilluseathousand.

"Letamanproceedinthisway,and,thoughdull,hewillsurelybecomeintelligent;thoughweak,hewillsurelybecomestrong."

Whenwehaveintelligenceresultingfromsincerity,thisconditionistobeascribedtonature;whenwehavesincerityresultingfromintelligence,thisconditionistobeascribedtoinstruction.Butgiventhesincerity,andthereshallbetheintelligence;giventheintelligence,andthereshallbethesincerity.

Itisonlyhewhoispossessedofthemostcompletesinceritythatcanexistunderheaven,whocangiveitsfundevelopmenttohisnature.Abletogiveitsfulldevelopmenttohisownnature,hecandothesametothenatureofothermen.Abletogiveitsfulldevelopmenttothenatureofothermen,hecangivetheirfulldevelopmenttothenaturesofanimalsandthings.Abletogivetheirfulldevelopmenttothenaturesofcreaturesandthings,hecanassistthetransformingandnourishingpowersofHeavenandEarth.AbletoassistthetransformingandnourishingpowersofHeavenandEarth,hemaywithHeavenandEarthformaternion.

Nexttotheaboveishewhocultivatestotheutmosttheshootsofgoodnessinhim.Fromthosehecanattaintothepossessionofsincerity.Thissinceritybecomesapparent.Frombeingapparent,itbecomesmanifest.Frombeingmanifest,itbecomesbrilliant.Brilliant,itaffectsothers.Affectingothers,theyarechangedbyit.Changedbyit,theyaretransformed.Itisonlyhewhoispossessedofthemostcompletesinceritythatcanexistunderheaven,whocantransform.

Itischaracteristicofthemostentiresinceritytobeabletoforeknow.Whenanationorfamilyisabouttoflourish,therearesuretobehappyomens;andwhenitisabouttoperish,therearesuretobeunluckyomens.Sucheventsareseeninthemilfoilandtortoise,andaffectthemovementsofthefourlimbs.Whencalamityorhappinessisabouttocome,thegoodshallcertainlybeforeknownbyhim,andtheevilalso.Thereforetheindividualpossessedofthemostcompletesincerityislikeaspirit.

Sincerityisthatwherebyself-completioniseffected,anditswayisthatbywhichmanmustdirecthimself.

Sincerityistheendandbeginningofthings;withoutsinceritytherewouldbenothing.Onthisaccount,thesuperiormanregardstheattainmentofsincerityasthemostexcellentthing.

Thepossessorofsinceritydoesnotmerelyaccomplishtheself-completionofhimself.Withthisqualityhecompletesothermenandthingsalso.Thecompletinghimselfshowshisperfectvirtue.

Thecompletingothermenandthingsshowshisknowledge.Butthesearevirtuesbelongingtothenature,andthisisthewaybywhichaunioniseffectedoftheexternalandinternal.Therefore,wheneverhe--theentirelysincereman--employsthem,thatis,thesevirtues,theiractionwillberight.

Hencetoentiresinceritytherebelongsceaselessness.Notceasing,itcontinueslong.Continuinglong,itevidencesitself.Evidencingitself,itreachesfar.Reachingfar,itbecomeslargeandsubstantial.Largeandsubstantial,itbecomeshighandbrilliant.Largeandsubstantial,thisis