The Doctrine of the Mean. Chapter 28.

1. The Master said, "Let a man who is ignorant be fond of using his ow judgment; let a man without rank be fond of assuming a directing power to himself; let a man who is lving in the present age go back to the ways of antiquity; ‹ on the persons of all who act thus calamities will be sure to come.

2. To no one but the Son of Heaven does it belong to order ceremonies, to fix the measures, and to determine the written characters.

3. Now, over the kingdom, carriages have all wheels of the same size; all writing is with the same characters; and all conduct there are the same rules.

4. One may occupy the throne, but if he have not the proper virtue, he may not dare to make ceremonies or music. One may have the virtue, but if he do not occupy the throne, he may not presume to make ceremonies or music.

5. The Master said, "I may describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words. I have learned the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, and in Sung they still continue. I have learned the ceremonies of Chou, which are now being used, and I follow Chou.

Text source: The Doctrine of the Mean. Translated by James Legge.

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China - Ancient - Philosophy - Chinese Confucians - Chinese translation