What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
The point where to rest being known, the object of
pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a
calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness
there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there
may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be
followed by the attainment of the desired end.
Things
have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and
their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead
near to what is taught in the Great Learning.
The
ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue
throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states.
Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated
their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they
first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their
persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify
their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their
thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first
extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of
knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things
being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their
knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their
thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.
Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.
Their persons being cultivated, their families were
regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were
rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the
whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.
From
the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all
must consider the cultivation of the person the root of
everything besides.
It cannot be, when the root is
neglected, that what should spring from it will be well
ordered. It never has been the case that what was of great
importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same
time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly
cared for.
Confucius Written
ca. 500 B.C.E
In his teachings, primarily recorded and elaborated upon by his disciples in texts such as The Great Learning, he points to the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. A truly good ruler, for instance, requires an ordered state, which in turn depends on a well-regulated family, then on an ordered self, a rectified heart, sincerity of thought, and the extension of knowledge derived from the investigation of things. One element seamlessly leads to another. When all these layers are in harmony, the entire kingdom flourishes and is successful.
When asked to explain in a single word how one should live, Confucius answered: "Reciprocity." This basic principle of Confucian ethics, often summarized as the Golden Rule, states: "Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you."
The core teachings of Confucius, as further developed and interpreted by later influential thinkers like Mencius and Xunzi, can also be generally summarized through these five essential virtues:
Ren: Benevolence, encompassing charity and humanity.
Yi: Honesty and uprightness.
Zhi: Knowledge and wisdom.
Xin: Faithfulness and integrity.
Li: Correct behavior, propriety, good manners, politeness, ceremony, and worship.
