ABSTRACT
So far, I have examined some fundamental dimensions of Confucian harmony. Confucian philosophy is more than philosophical justifications or metaphysical speculations; it aims directly at harmonizing human society. In the second half of this book, I turn to investigating this philosophy in practice. For this purpose, I focus on another text of the Four Books, the Great Learning, which delineates a program for the application of Confucian harmony, from the inner harmony of the person to the harmony of the family, of society, and ultimately of the entire world. The Great Learning states:
Once a person’s will becomes cheng, his heart-mind can be set upright. Once his heart-mind is set upright, he can cultivate his self. Once his self is cultivated, he can harmonize the family (qi jia). Once he harmonizes the family, he can put the country in good order. Once he puts the country in good order, he can achieve peace in the entire world. 1
(TTC 1673; see Legge 1885 IV: 412)