The Master said:
“How supremely wise was Shun!
He loved to ask questions and was attentive to even the most ordinary words.
He concealed what was evil and promoted what was good.
Grasping the two extremes, he applied the Mean to the people.
It was precisely this that made him Shun!”
子曰：「舜其大知也與！
舜好問而好察邇言，
隱惡而揚善，
執其兩端，用其中於民，
其斯以為舜乎！」
Note
This chapter presents the sage-king Shun as the embodiment of the Doctrine of the Mean in political practice. Confucius praises Shun’s “supreme wisdom” not for erudition or talent, but for his humility, inclusiveness, prudence, and balanced governance.
First, “loving to ask questions and being attentive to ordinary words” reflects Shun’s openness and people-centered stance. He did not dismiss the simple, everyday speech of commoners, but instead discerned public sentiment and drew wisdom from it. This aligns with the spirit of the Book of Documents (Book of History): “consult even the grass-cutters and firewood gatherers,” affirming the Confucian belief that “the Way is present in daily life.”
Second, “concealing evil and promoting good” is not about hiding truth, but a pedagogical strategy aimed at moral edification. By minimizing negative examples and amplifying virtuous conduct, Shun cultivated a social climate oriented toward goodness – exemplifying the principle that “cultivating the Way is called teaching.”
Most crucially, “grasping the two extremes and applying the Mean to the people” captures the essence of Confucian political wisdom. As Zhu Xi explains in his Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean:
“The ‘two extremes’ refer to the furthest opposing views… By presenting both ends, the ruler enables the people to find the balanced middle.”
Shun did not impose predetermined solutions; instead, he listened widely to polarized opinions (e.g., radical vs. conservative, strict vs. lenient), and from this full understanding of tension, distilled policies that were timely, fair, and integrative. This “dynamic harmony” is the core of Zhong Yong in governance.
Thus, Shun became a sage-king not through miracles or manipulation, but through practical reason rooted in popular welfare, collective deliberation, moral guidance, and the art of “holding the extremes to apply the Mean.” He offers later generations a model of leadership: true wisdom lies in making the Mean take root in the complexities of real-world governance.
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