Using the Confucian and Daoist philosophy of “the Middle” as its central theme, this book explores in depth the key differences between the Confucian ideal of “the Doctrine of the Mean” and the Daoist principle of “holding to the center.” It reveals how these ideas complement each other in the spiritual tradition of China and offers a Systematic account of their distinctive value for adaptation to modern society.
Confucian “moderation” is rooted in ethical practice and grounded in the belief that “what is mandated by Heaven is called human nature.” It advocates “holding to both extremes and using the middle,” dynamically balancing human relationships without blindly seeking conformity or veering toward extremes, ultimately reaching a harmony in which “harmony does not require uniformity.” Daoist “holding to the center,” by contrast, is rooted in the ontology of “following the Dao and nature.” It takes “emptiness and stillness” as practical wisdom, urging people to dispel excessive human interference and return to the natural state in which “all things flourish together.” Though one engages with the world and the other withdraws from it, together they shaped the Chinese mindset of “holding to the middle and upholding what is right”!
