The analysis of orientational metaphor of ‘<i>Zhōng</i>’ (中) in Chinese traditional classic <i>The Doctrine of the Mean</i>

Abstract This paper studies the orientational metaphor of zhōng ( 中 , ‘middle’) and its cultural values behind this metaphor in Chinese Traditional Classic The Doctrine of Mean . It is found that there are three metaphorical meanings for the orientational metaphor of zhōng ( 中 , ‘middle’), including “an emotion of calm.”; “a moderate degree” and “an ethical standard”. The ethical standard of zhōng is the judge criteria for the Chinese traditional role schemas jūnzǐ ( 君子 , ‘a person of noble character’) and xiǎorén ( 小人 ,‘a person of petty character’). In addition, the cultural values of Chinese society revealed by the ethical standard of zhōng ( 中 , ‘middle’) are concluded systematically from the levels of individual, family and state.