This term, which originated from The Doctrine of the Mean (a section of The Book of Rites), means that one should at all times follow the principle of the mean. Confucian scholars regarded the mean as the supreme principle guiding people's behavior. They stressed that when handling things one should not act excessively or insufficiently. However, the criteria for determining what were appropriate or not did not remain unchanged. When taking a specific action, one should always bear in mind the need to follow ethical standards and rites, namely, the principle of the mean.

Confucius said, "A man of virtue follows the mean and a petty man goes against it. A man of virtue seeks to be in keeping with the mean at all times, whereas a petty man goes against it and acts unscrupulously. " (The Book of Rites)