Research on Su Shi's Theory of the Doctrine of the Mean: Focusing on the 50 Political Essays(策論) in the 6th Year of Jia You(嘉祐, 1061)

This paper aims to elucidate Su Shi(蘇軾)'s concept of the Zhongyong (中庸, Doctrine of the Mean) thought, focusing on fifty political essays(策論). These fifty politicalessays were written by Su Shi at the age of 26(1061) as part of his submission for the imperial examination. At the core of these writings, which can be considered reflections on politics and history, are three essays on the Zhongyong. This author aims to elucidate the meaning and characteristics of his concept of Zhongyong, based on political theory and historical theory. In this paper, this author interprets the core concept of cheng(誠), a key category in the Zhongyong, not from the perspective of human nature(性), but from the perspective of human emotions(人情). During the Northern Song period, when Neo~Confucianism, based on human nature, was being systematized, Su Shi's interpretation of cheng(誠) based on the theory of emotions can be seen as expanding the meaning of the Zhongyong into the realm of practical application. The interpretation of cheng(誠) as something grounded in practice is expressed as a virtue that ministers must possess. Furthermore, cheng(誠) leads people not through the difficult moral world that is hard to practice, but along a path that is much easier to practice in everyday life. Su Shi believed that cheng(誠) alone was not enough to practice the way of the sage; the zhongyong(中庸) was also necessary. He regarded the Doctrine of the Mean as a kind of method for achieving the way of the sage. In other words, Su Shi argued that not only is a state free from excess and deficiency(過 不及) necessary, but the principle of balance and appropriateness(權道) is also required. Therefore, Su Shi emphasized the importance of a subjective standard that seeks the “mid dle way”(中道) amidst the constant changes of circumstances. Due to this subjective standard, there exists a distinction between the “middle way” of a gentleman(君子) and that of a petty person(小人). Confucius(孔子) and Mencius(孟子) referred to this as xiangyuan(鄕原). Su Shi also regarded the ability to discern xiangyuan(鄕原) as part of the process toward achieving the way of the sage. The fifty political essays are key texts for understanding Su Shi's early Confucian thought and political theory. They also reveal his ideas on human emotions, which serve as an important theoretical foundation for understanding his literature. Therefore, further research is needed.