It means that the purpose of the university is to promote upright moral character, to make people abandon the old and pursue the new, and to make people reach the most perfect state. It comes from "The Great Learning". It is a prose that discusses the Confucian thoughts of self-cultivation and governing the country and bringing peace to the world. It was originally the 42nd chapter of "The Book of Rites of Xiao Dai". It is said to have been written by Zeng Zi, but it is actually a Confucian work of the Qin and Han Dynasties.
"The Great Learning" is an important work discussing educational theory in ancient China. After Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi of the Northern Song Dynasty tried their best to respect it, Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty also wrote "Great Learning Chapters", which was eventually called the "Four Books" together with "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius". ?
The full text (excerpt) is as follows:
The way of a university lies in being virtuous, being close to the people, and striving for perfection. Knowing that there is stillness can lead to concentration, concentration can lead to tranquility, tranquility can lead to tranquility, tranquility can lead to worry, and worry can lead to gain. Things have a beginning and an end, and things have an end and a beginning. If you know the order of things, you will be able to take the shortcut.
The translation is as follows:
The purpose of "The University" is to promote noble virtues, to care for the people, and to achieve the highest state of goodness. Only when we know that we must reach the state of "the highest good" can we determine the goal. Only when we set the goal can we have a peaceful mind. Only when the mind is quiet can we be stable and stable. Only when we are stable and stable can we think carefully. Only by thinking carefully can we achieve the "supreme good". Everything has a root and an end, and everything has an end and a beginning. Knowing their order is not far from the purpose of "The University".
Extended information:
The way of the university is the purpose of the university and the ultimate goal of the university. University: In ancient times, it had two meanings: "erudite" state; "adult learning" which is opposite to "elementary school".
In ancient times, children went to primary school at the age of eight and mainly learned cultural lessons and basic etiquette such as "sweeping, responding, advancing and retreating, etiquette, music, shooting, and numbers". After the age of fifteen, you can enter university and begin to study ethics, politics, philosophy and other subjects such as "pursuing principles and rectifying one's mind, cultivating oneself and governing others". Although there are obvious differences between the two meanings, they both mean "erudite".
The "Three Programs" proposed by "The Great Learning" (explaining morality, being close to the people, and striving for perfection) and the "Eight Items" (investigating things, seeking knowledge, sincerity, upright mind, self-cultivation, ordering the family, governing the country, and peace) The world) emphasizes that self-cultivation is the prerequisite for governing others, and the purpose of self-cultivation is to govern the country and bring peace to the world, which illustrates the consistency between governing the country and bringing peace to the world and personal moral cultivation.
Baidu Encyclopedia - University