Mencius Kingly Way Essentials | Generated by AI
Meaning of the Quote
“养生丧死无憾，王道之始也” means:
- 养生 (yang sheng) = To provide for the living (ensuring people have sufficient necessities)
- 丧死 (sang si) = To bury the dead (allowing people to conduct proper funerals)
- 无憾 (wu han) = Without regret/remorse
- 王道之始 (wang dao zhi shi) = The beginning of the Kingly Way (benevolent governance)
Translation: “When people can support the living and bury the dead without regret, this is the beginning of the Kingly Way.”
Mencius believed this was the most fundamental requirement for a ruler’s benevolent governance—meeting people’s survival needs and basic ethical obligations is the starting point of all virtuous government.
Overview of the Essay
This is a dialogue between Mencius and King Hui of Liang, centered on how to govern a state.
Structure of the Dialogue
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King Hui’s Confusion: “I’ve worked so hard governing my state, why isn’t my population increasing?”
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Mencius’s Parable: The story of “fifty paces laughing at a hundred paces” (逃跑五十步的人嘲笑逃跑一百步的人) - pointing out that King Hui and neighboring states are essentially the same in waging war, with no real difference.
- Specific Measures for Benevolent Governance:
- Don’t interfere with farming seasons → Abundant grain
- Don’t use fine nets in ponds → Fish and turtles aplenty
- Cut trees at the right time → Inexhaustible timber
- Plant mulberry trees around homes → Elderly can wear silk
- Raise chickens, pigs, and dogs properly → Elderly can eat meat
- Don’t disrupt farm work → Families won’t go hungry
- Establish schools and education → Emphasize moral instruction
- Progressive Argumentation:
- Step 1:养生丧死无憾 (Meeting basic survival needs)
- Step 2: 黎民不饥不寒 (People not hungry or cold - moderate prosperity)
- Step 3: 王道之成 (Achievement of ideal benevolent governance)
Core Philosophy
Mencius’s Theory of Benevolent Governance includes:
- People-centered thinking: Prioritizing people’s livelihood
- Economic foundation: First solve material needs
- Moral education: Implement education after material security
- Anti-war stance: Criticizing King Hui’s constant warfare
Literary Features
- Effective use of metaphors: “Fifty paces laughing at a hundred paces” is vivid and memorable
- Progressive logic: From basic survival to moral cultivation
- Contrasting arguments: Ideal state vs. harsh reality (“Fat meat in the kitchen, fat horses in the stables, hungry looks on people’s faces, corpses in the fields”)
This essay embodies Mencius’s political philosophy of inherent human goodness and people over rulers, profoundly influencing ancient Chinese political thought.