Tradition credits Kong Ji—better known as Zisi, the grandson of Confucius—with shaping the Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong). Long before it became one of the Four Books in Zhu Xi’s Song-dynasty compilation, fragments of Zhongyong were tucked inside the ancient “Book of Rites” (Liji). Over centuries, scholars wove those snippets into a coherent essay about walking the middle path, striking that ever-elusive balance between excess and deficiency.

Modern research sometimes questions whether a single author sat down and penned it all, or if Zisi’s disciples polished and preserved his teachings. Either way, the core ideas—the harmony of inner virtue and social order—trace directly back to Confucius’s lineage and early disciples. In the 12th century, Zhu Xi’s endorsement cemented its status, turning Zhongyong into a must-read for imperial exams and later generations hungry for guidance on personal and communal equilibrium.

Today’s mindfulness advocates often echo its counsel on “holding fast to the Mean,” proving that a wisdom text from over two millennia ago still resonates in an age of digital overload and social media noise. Whether wandering through a museum’s Confucian exhibit or spotting a pop-culture reference in a new podcast on Eastern philosophy, the Doctrine of the Mean continues to inspire anyone aiming to keep life’s scales balanced—no tightrope required.