Zhong and Zhongyong in Confucian Classics [Hardcover]

This Key Concept pivot explores the trajectory of the semantic generation and evolution of two core concepts of ancient Chinese Confucianism, Zhong (middle) and Zhongyong (golden mean). In the pre-Qin period, Confucius advocated middle line and golden mean as the highest standards for gentlemanly behaviour and culture.  In The Doctrine of the Mean the Confucian classic of the late Warring States Period, middle obtained the ontological meaning of great fundamental virtues of the world, due to the influence of Taoism and Yinyang School. It became not only the norm of human behaviours, but also the law governing the operation of heaven and earth. Since then, idealist Confucian scholars of the Song and Ming dynasties have developed the meaning of middle from the perspective of the relationships between heaven and man, a fundamental norm of Confucian ethics. 

Concepts of zhong and zhongyong in the pre-Qin classics.- zhong and zhongyong in the Context of Confucian Classics as the Dominant Ideology.- Zhong  and zhongyong  in the discourse of the Li School of Confucianism by Zhu Xi and the Cheng Brothers.- Zhong and zhongyong in the discourse of the Philosophy of Mind.- Cultural Logic of zhong and zhongyong and their significance for today.

The English translation is bumpy at best. & the book apparently targets a lay audience & . (Lukas K. Pokorny, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 48 (3), September, 2022)

Chunqing Li (Ph.D in Literature) is professor of the School of Language and Literature, Beijing Normal University, China. He is also Director and a full-time researcher of the Academic Committee of the Centre for Literalód