Introduction to Mencius Book | Generated by AI
Question: Provide an introduction to the book 《孟子》 (Mencius).
Answer:
《孟子》(Mencius, also written as Mengzi) is one of the most important classical texts in Confucianism and one of the Four Books (四书) of the Confucian canon.
Basic Information
- Author: Traditionally attributed to Mencius (孟子, personal name Meng Ke 孟轲, c. 372–289 BCE) and his disciples.
- Period: Compiled during the late Warring States period (around the 4th–3rd century BCE).
- Structure: Consists of 7 books (篇), divided into 14 chapters in total (Books 1A–7B). The text contains about 35,000 Chinese characters.
- Form: Mostly records of dialogues between Mencius and various rulers (kings and dukes), disciples, and debaters, written in vivid, argumentative prose — very different from the more aphoristic style of the Analects (论语).
Core Ideas and Philosophical Contributions
Mencius is widely regarded as the greatest interpreter and developer of Confucius’s thought after Confucius himself. He is often called the “Second Sage” (亚圣) in the Confucian tradition.
Key philosophical positions include:
-
Human nature is good (性善论):
Every person is born with four innate “sprouts” (端) of virtue — compassion (恻隐之心), shame/dislike of wrong (羞恶之心), courtesy/modesty (辞让之心), and sense of right and wrong (是非之心). These can develop into the four cardinal virtues: benevolence (仁), righteousness (义), propriety (礼), and wisdom (智). Evil arises only when these sprouts are not nurtured. -
Benevolent government (仁政):
Rulers should govern with compassion and moral example rather than force. Heavy taxation, harsh punishments, and wars should be minimized. A true king wins the hearts of the people. -
People are more important than the ruler (民贵君轻):
Famous line: “The people are the most precious; next come the state and grain; the ruler is the lightest.”
If a ruler becomes tyrannical, revolution (汤武革命) is morally justified. -
Righteousness over profit (义利之辨):
Mencius sharply criticized the pursuit of personal or state profit at the expense of moral principles. -
Great man / Heroic ideal (大丈夫):
A person of unwavering moral courage who maintains integrity even in poverty or danger.
Historical Influence
- During the Song dynasty (especially through Zhu Xi), Mencius was elevated to one of the Four Books together with Analects, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean. These four texts became the core curriculum for the imperial civil service examinations from the Yuan dynasty until 1905.
- Mencius’s emphasis on innate goodness and the right to resist tyranny had a lasting impact on Chinese political thought, education, and ethics.
- His ideas also deeply influenced Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese Confucian traditions.
Why Read 《孟子》 Today?
The book is not only a philosophical classic but also contains lively debates, memorable stories (e.g., the “child falling into a well” thought experiment), and sharp political critiques. Its language is relatively accessible compared to many other ancient Chinese texts, making it one of the most readable Confucian classics.
In short: If the Analects gives Confucius’s concise teachings, then Mencius provides the passionate, systematic defense and expansion of Confucianism in a turbulent age.
References: