It means to be upright and gentle, tolerant and cautious, upright in temperament but not domineering, and simple in attitude but not arrogant.
From "Shang Shu? Shun Dian", the original text is:
The emperor said: "Kui! I ordered you to play music and teach Zhouzi to be straight and gentle, broad and chestnut, strong and firm. No cruelty, simplicity but no arrogance. The poem expresses the ambition, the song lasts forever, the rhythm is harmonious, and there is no harmony between the gods and humans."
The vernacular translation is. , Emperor Shun said: "Kui! Appoint you to be the music officer and teach the young people so that they can be upright but gentle, generous but firm, resolute but not rough, simple but not arrogant.
Extended information
p>The "Dian of Shun" records Shun's achievements. Like the "Dian of Yao", it is also an important chapter in "Shangshu" and has important cultural value. The full text can be divided into four paragraphs:
The first paragraph (Yu Shun's side was so weak that the strong wind, thunder and rain were not enough), describes Shun's virtues and the abdication of Tang Yao to Yu Shun. The second paragraph (the emperor said that he had committed four sins and the world was convinced.), describes Shun's virtues. After he ascended the throne, he performed sacrifices, patrolled, divided state boundaries, formulated criminal laws, and exiled the four evil spirits. The third section (from the twenty-eight years to the division of northern Sanmiao) records Shun's selection and education of officials.
The fourth paragraph (Shun was thirty years old and died in Zhifang) praises Shun for his hard work and dedication to state affairs
Baidu Encyclopedia - Shun Dian