| zì： | zǐ yú | ||
yuèdòumèng kē Menciuszài百家争鸣dezuòpǐn!!! | |||
mèng zǐ shī chéng zǐ sī ( yī shuō shì shī chéng zì zǐ sī de xué shēng )， jì chéng bìng fā yáng liǎo kǒng zǐ de sī xiǎng， chéng wéi jǐn cì yú kǒng zǐ de yī dài rú jiā zōng shī， yòu “ yà shèng ” zhī chēng， yǔ kǒng zǐ bìng chēng wéi“ kǒng mèng”。 mèng zǐ céng fǎng xiào kǒng zǐ， dài lǐng mén tú yóushuì gè guó。 dàn shì bù bèi dāng shí gè guó suǒ jiē shòu， tuì yǐn yǔ dì zǐ yī qǐ zhù shù。 yòu《 mèng zǐ》 qī piān chuán shì， piān mù wéi：《 liáng huì wáng》 shàng、 xià；《 gōng sūn chǒu》 shàng、 xià；《 téng wén gōng》 shàng、 xià；《 lí lóu》；《 wàn zhāng》 shàng、 xià；《 gào zǐ》 shàng、 xià；《 jìn xīn》 shàng、 xià。 qí xué shuō chū fā diǎn wéi xìng shàn lùn， tí chū“ rén zhèng”、“ wáng dào”， zhù zhāng dé zhì。 nán sòng shí zhū xī jiāng《 mèng zǐ》 yǔ《 lùn yǔ》、《 dà xué》、《 zhōng yōng》 hé zài yī qǐ chēng“ sì shū”。 cóng cǐ zhí dào qīng mò，“ sì shū” yī zhí shì kē jǔ bì kǎo nèi róng。 mèng zǐ de wén zhāng shuō lǐ chàng dá， fā huī xiáng jìn qì shì chōng pèi bìng cháng yú lùn biàn。
mèng zǐ yuǎn zǔ shì lǔ guó guì zú mèng sūn shì， hòu jiā dào shuāi wēi， cóng lǔ guó qiān jū zōu guó。 jù shuō， mèng zǐ sān suì sàng fù， mèng mǔ jiān xīn dì jiāng tā fǔ yǎng chéng rén， mèng mǔ guǎn shù shèn yán， qí“ mèng mǔ sān qiān”、“ duàn jī jiào zǐ” děng gù shì， chéng wéi qiān gǔ měi tán， shì hòu shì mǔ jiào zhī diǎn fàn。
shēn hòu róng rǔ
mèng zǐ shì rú jiā zuì zhù yào de dài biǎo rén wù zhī yī， dàn mèng zǐ de dì wèi zài sòng dài yǐ qián bìng bù hěn gāo。 zì zhōng táng de hán yù zhù《 yuán dào》， bǎ mèng zǐ liè wéi xiān qín rú jiā zhōng wéi yī jì chéng kǒng zǐ“ dào tǒng” de rén wù kāi shǐ， chū xiàn liǎo yī gè mèng zǐ de“ shēng gé yùn dòng”， mèng zǐ qí rén qí shū de dì wèi zhú jiàn shàng shēng。 sòng shén zōng xī níng sì nián（ 1071 nián），《 mèng zǐ》 yī shū shǒu cì bèi liè rù kē jǔ kǎo shì kē mù zhī zhōng。 yuán fēng liù nián（ 1083 nián）， mèng zǐ shǒu cì bèi guān fāng zhuī fēng wéi“ zōu guó gōng”， yì nián bèi pī zhǔn pèi xiǎng kǒng miào。 yǐ hòu《 mèng zǐ》 yī shū shēng gé wéi rú jiā jīng diǎn， nán sòng zhū xī yòu bǎ《 mèng zǐ》 yǔ《 lùn yǔ》、《 dà xué》、《 zhōng yōng》 hé wéi“ sì shū”， qí shí jì dì wèi gèng zài“ wǔ jīng” zhī shàng。 yuán cháo zhì shùn yuán nián（ 1330）， mèng zǐ bèi jiā fēng wéi“ yà shèng gōng”， yǐ hòu jiù chēng wéi“ yà shèng”， dì wèi jǐn cì yú kǒng zǐ。 míng cháo zhū yuán zhāng ji yòu《 mèng zǐ jié wén》， shān diào《 mèng zǐ》 lǐ de zhāng jù， rú“ mín wéi guì， shè jì cì zhī， jūn wéi qīng”、“ cán zéi zhī rén wèi zhī yī fū， wén zhū yī fū zhòu yǐ， wèi wén shì jūn yě” děng。
mèng zǐ nián biǎo
zhōu liè wáng 4 nián jǐ yǒu（ gōng yuán qián 372 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē shēng yú cǐ shí
zhōu xiǎn wáng 12 nián wèi huì wáng 13 nián hán zhāo hóu 6 nián jiá zǐ（ gōng yuán qián 357 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē shí wǔ suì， shòu yè yú zǐ sī mén rén
zhōu xiǎn wáng 17 nián qín xiào gōng 10 nián jǐ sì（ gōng yuán qián 352 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē 'èr shí suì， yù xiū qī
zhōu xiǎn wáng 37 nián jǐ chǒu（ gōng yuán qián 332 nián）
mèng zǐ zài zōu， dá zōu mù gōng wèn
zhōu xiǎn wáng 38 nián gēng yín（ gōng yuán qián 331 nián）
mèng zǐ jū píng lù
zhōu xiǎn wáng 39 nián xīn mǎo（ gōng yuán qián 330 nián）
mèng zǐ dào rèn guó， bài fǎng jì rèn
mèng zǐ zài zōu， yǔ wū lú zǐ、 cáo jiāo wèn dá
zhōu xiǎn wáng 40 nián qí wēi wáng 28 nián rén chén（ gōng yuán qián 329 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē sì shí sān suì， shǒu cì zhì qí
qí xiāng chǔ zǐ lái jiàn mèng zǐ
zhōu xiǎn wáng 41 nián qí wēi wáng 29 nián sòng jūn yǎn hòu yuán 1 nián guǐ sì ( gōng yuán qián 328 nián )
mèng zǐ yǔ gào zǐ biàn lùn
mèng zǐ quàn chí wā xiàng qí wáng jìn jiàn
mèng zǐ yǔ kuāng zhāng jiāo yóu
mèng zǐ lí kāi qí guó， qián wǎng sòng guó
zhōu xiǎn wáng 42 nián sòng jūn yǎn hòu yuán 2 nián jiá wǔ ( gōng yuán qián 327 nián )
mèng zǐ zhì sòng
zhōu xiǎn wáng 43 nián sòng jūn yǎn hòu yuán 3 nián yǐ wèi（ gōng yuán qián 326 nián）
mèng zǐ zài sòng， yǔ téng guó shì zǐ xiāng huì
mèng zǐ yǔ sòng rén gòu jiàn lùn yóushuì zhī dào
zhōu xiǎn wáng 44 nián sòng jūn yǎn hòu yuán 4 nián qín huì wén wáng 13 nián bǐng shēn（ gōng yuán qián 325 nián）
mèng zǐ lí kāi sòng guó， huí dào zōu
zhōu xiǎn wáng 45 nián liáng huì wáng hòu yuán 11 nián dīng yǒu（ gōng yuán qián 324 nián）
mèng zǐ zài zōu， téng wén gōng pài rán yǒu wèn sānglǐ
mèng zǐ yóu zōu zhī téng， tuī xíng rén zhèng
zhōu xiǎn wáng 46 nián wèi huì wáng hòu yuán 12 nián qí wēi wáng 34 nián wù shù（ gōng yuán qián 323 nián）
mèng zǐ yǔ nóng jiā chén xiāng biàn lùn
zhōu xiǎn wáng 47 nián qí wēi wáng 35 nián wèi huì wáng hòu yuán 13 nián jǐ hài（ gōng yuán qián 322 nián）
qí rén chéng xuē， téng wén gōng wèn yú mèng zǐ
zhōu shèn jìng wáng 1 nián wèi hòu yuán 15 nián qí wēi wáng 37 nián xīn chǒu（ gōng yuán qián 320 nián）
liáng huì wáng“ hòu bì bēi lǐ” zhào xián nà shì
mèng zǐ jiàn liáng huì wáng， shí yuē wǔ shí 'èr suì
mèng zǐ yǔ zhōu xiāo lùn chū shì
zhōu shèn jìng wáng 2 nián wèi huì wáng hòu yuán 16 nián qí xuān wáng 1 nián rén yín（ gōng yuán qián 319 nián）
mèng zǐ yǔ gōng sūn chǒu lùn duǎn sàng
zhōu shèn jìng wáng 3 nián wèi xiāng wáng 1 nián qí xuān wáng 2 nián guǐ mǎo（ gōng yuán qián 318 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē wǔ shí sì suì， jiàn liáng xiāng wáng
mèng zǐ zài fàn yù qí wáng zǐ
mèng zǐ zhì qí， dá qí xuān wáng wèn
mèng zǐ lùn“ wǒ sì shí bù dòng xīn”
zhōu shèn jìng wáng 5 nián yàn wáng kuài 5 nián yǐ sì（ gōng yuán qián 316 nián）
mèng zǐ chū diào téng wén gōng
zhōu shèn jìng wáng 6 nián chǔ huái wáng 14 nián lǔ píng gōng 10 nián qí xuān wáng 5 nián bǐng wǔ（ gōng yuán qián 315 nián）
lǔ píng gōng yù jiàn mèng zǐ
mèng zǐ fǎn huí qí guó， yǔ chōng yú lùn zàng mǔ
qí xuān wáng wèn mèng zǐ fá yàn
zhōu nǎn wáng 3 nián qí xuān wáng 8 nián chǔ huái wáng 17 nián jǐ yǒu（ gōng yuán qián 312 nián）
yàn rén pàn qí， qí xuān wáng shuō“ wú shèn cán yú mèng zǐ”
mèng zǐ lùn“ chén shì jūn rú kòu chóu”
mèng zǐ yǔ chún yú kūn biàn lùn
mèng zǐ yuē liù shí suì， cí guān lí kāi qí guó
mèng zǐ yù sòng xíng yú shí qiū
zhōu nǎn wáng 25 nián xīn mǎo（ gōng yuán qián 290 nián）
《 mèng zǐ》 yuē biān zhuàn yú cǐ shí
zhōu nǎn wáng 26 nián rén shēn（ gōng yuán qián 289 nián）
mèng zǐ yuē zú yú cǐ shí
mèng zǐ shì xì
lì dài yà shèng gōng：
sì shí wǔ dài sūn mèng níng
wǔ shí sì dài sūn mèng sī liàng， zì yǒu dào
wǔ shí wǔ dài sūn mèng kè rén， zì xìn fū
wǔ shí liù dài sūn mèng xī wén， zì shì huàn
wǔ shí qī dài sūn mèng yuán， zì cháng bó， hóng zhì 'èr nián xí。
wǔ shí bā dài sūn mèng gōng zhào， mèng yuán dì mèng hēng zhī zǐ， zì xiān wén、 mèng gōng qǐ， mèng yuán zhī zǐ， zì tuó wén
wǔ shí jiǔ dài sūn mèng yàn pú， zì cháo xǐ， lóng qìng yuán nián xí
liù shí dài sūn mèng chéng guāng， wàn lì 'èr shí jiǔ nián xí
liù shí yī dài sūn mèng hóng yù， tiān qǐ sān nián xí
liù shí 'èr dài sūn mèng wén yù， chóng zhēn 'èr nián xí
liù shí sān dài sūn mèng zhēn rén
liù shí sì dài sūn mèng shàng guì
liù shí wǔ dài sūn mèng yǎn tài
liù shí liù dài sūn mèng xīng xǐ
liù shí qī dài sūn mèng yù hàn
liù shí bā dài sūn mèng chuán lián
liù shí jiǔ dài sūn mèng jì lǎng
qī shí dài sūn mèng guǎng jūn
qī shí yī dài sūn mèng zhāo shuān
qī shí 'èr dài sūn mèng xiàn sì
qī shí sān dài sūn mèng qìng táng
qī shí sì dài sūn mèng fán jì (1908-1990)， yú 1943 nián shì xí“ yà shèng fèng sì guān”。 1949 nián fù tái
qī shí wǔ dài sūn mèng xiáng xié
mèng zǐ sī xiǎng
mín běn sī xiǎng
“ mín wéi guì， shè jì cì zhī， jūn wéi qīng。” yì sī shì shuō， rén mín fàng zài dì yī wèi， guó jiā qí cì， jūn zài zuì hòu。 mèng zǐ rèn wéi jūn zhù yìng yǐ 'ài hù rén mín wéi xiān， wéi zhèng zhě yào bǎo zhàng rén mín quán lì。 mèng zǐ zàn tóng ruò jūn zhù wú dào， rén mín yòu quán tuī fān zhèng quán。 zhèng yīn cǐ yuán yīn，《 hàn shū》 「 yì wén zhì 」 jǐn jǐn bǎ《 mèng zǐ》 fàng zài zhū zǐ lüè zhōng， shì wéi zǐ shū， méi yòu dé dào yīngyǒu de dì wèi。 dào wǔ dài shí guó de hòu shǔ shí， hòu shǔ zhù mèng chǎng mìng lìng rén jiē shū shí yī jīng kè shí， qí zhōng bāo kuò liǎo《 mèng zǐ》， zhè kě néng shì《 mèng zǐ》 liè rù「 jīng shū」 de kāi shǐ。 dào nán sòng de xiào zōng shí， zhū xī jiāng《 mèng zǐ》 yǔ《 lùn yǔ》、《 dà xué》、《 zhōng yōng》 hé zài yī qǐ chēng「 sì shū」， bìng chéng wéi「 shí sān jīng」 zhī yī，《 mèng zǐ》 de dì wèi cái bèi tuī dào liǎo gāo fēng。 chuán shuō míng tài zǔ zhū yuán zhāng yīn bù mǎn mèng zǐ de mín běn sī xiǎng， céng mìng rén shān jié《 mèng zǐ》 zhōng de yòu guān nèi róng。
rén zhèng xué shuō
mèng zǐ jì chéng hé fā zhǎn liǎo kǒng zǐ de dé zhì sī xiǎng， fā zhǎn wéi rén zhèng xué shuō， chéng wéi qí zhèng zhì sī xiǎng de hé xīn。 tā bǎ“ qīn qīn”、“ cháng cháng” de yuán zé yùn yòng yú zhèng zhì， yǐ huǎn hé jiē jí máo dùn， wéi hù fēng jiàn tǒng zhì jiē jí de cháng yuǎn lì yì。
mèng zǐ yī fāng miàn yán gé qū fēn liǎo tǒng zhì zhě yǔ bèi tǒng zhì zhě de jiē jí dì wèi， rèn wéi“ láo xīn zhě zhì rén， láo lì zhě zhì yú rén”， bìng qiě mó fǎng zhōu zhì nǐ dìng liǎo yī tào cóng tiān zǐ dào shù rén de děng jí zhì dù； lìng yī fāng miàn， yòu bǎ tǒng zhì zhě hé bèi tǒng zhì zhě de guān xì bǐ zuò fù mǔ duì zǐ nǚ de guān xì， zhù zhāng tǒng zhì zhě yīnggāi xiàng fù mǔ yī yàng guān xīn rén mín de jí kǔ， rén mín yīnggāi xiàng duì dài fù mǔ yī yàng qù qīn jìn、 fú shì tǒng zhì zhě。
mèng zǐ rèn wéi， zhè shì yī zhǒng zuì lǐ xiǎng de zhèng zhì， rú guǒ tǒng zhì zhě shí xíng rén zhèng， kě yǐ dé dào rén mín de zhōng xīn yōng hù； fǎn zhī， rú guǒ bù gù rén mín sǐ huó， tuī xíng nüè zhèng， jiāng huì shī qù mín xīn 'ér biàn chéng dú fū mín zéi， bèi rén mín tuī fān。 rén zhèng de jù tǐ nèi róng hěn guǎng fàn， bāo kuò jīng jì、 zhèng zhì、 jiào yù yǐ jí tǒng yī tiān xià de tú jìng děng， qí zhōng guàn chuānzhuó yī tiáo mín běn sī xiǎng de xiàn suǒ。 zhè zhǒng sī xiǎng shì cóng chūn qiū shí qī zhòng mín qīng shén de sī xiǎng fā zhǎn 'ér lái de。
mèng zǐ gēn jù zhàn guó shí qī de jīng yàn， zǒng jié gè guó zhì luàn xīng wáng de guī lǜ， tí chū liǎo yī gè fù yòu mín zhù xìng jīng huá de zhù míng mìng tí：“ mín wéi guì， shè jì cì zhī， jūn wéi qīng”。 rèn wéi rú hé duì dài rén mín zhè yī wèn tí， duì yú guó jiā de zhì luàn xīng wáng， jù yòu jí duān de zhòng yào xìng。 mèng zǐ shí fēn zhòng shì mín xīn de xiàng bèi， tōng guò dà liàng lì shǐ shì lì fǎn fù chǎn shù zhè shì guān hū dé tiān xià yǔ shī tiān xià de guān jiàn wèn tí。 mèng zǐ shuō：“ fū rén zhèng， bì zì jīng jiè shǐ”。 suǒ wèi“ jīng jiè”， jiù shì huàfēn zhěng lǐ tián jiè， shí xíng jǐng tián zhì。 mèng zǐ suǒ shè xiǎng de jǐng tián zhì， shì yī zhǒng fēng jiàn xìng de zì rán jīng jì， yǐ yī jiā yī hù de xiǎo nóng wéi jī chǔ， cǎi qǔ láo yì dì zū de bō xuē xíng shì。 měi jiā nóng hù yòu wǔ mǔ zhī zhái， bǎi mǔ zhī tián， chī chuān zìjǐ zì zú。 mèng zǐ rèn wéi，“ mín zhī wéi dào yě， yòu héng chǎn zhě yòu héng xīn， wú héng chǎn zhě wú héng xīn”， zhǐ yòu shǐ rén mín yōng yòu“ héng chǎn”， gù dìng zài tǔ dì shàng， ān jū lè yè， tā men cái bù qù chù fàn xíng lǜ， wéi fēi zuò dǎi。 mèng zǐ rèn wéi， rén mín de wù zhì shēng huó yòu liǎo bǎo zhàng， tǒng zhì zhě zài xīng bàn xué xiào， yòng xiào tì de dào lǐ jìn xíng jiào huà， yǐn dǎo tā men xiàng shàn， zhè jiù kě yǐ zào chéng yī zhǒng“ qīn qīn”、“ cháng cháng” de liáng hǎo dào dé fēng shàng， jí“ rén rén qīn qí qīn、 cháng qí cháng， ér tiān xià píng”。 mèng zǐ rèn wéi tǒng zhì zhě shí xíng rén zhèng， kě yǐ dé dào tiān xià rén mín de zhōng xīn yōng hù， zhè yàng biàn kě yǐ wú dí yú tiān xià。 mèng zǐ suǒ shuō de rén zhèng yào jiàn lì zài tǒng zhì zhě de“ bù rěn rén zhī xīn” de jī chǔ shàng。 mèng zǐ shuō：“ xiān wáng yòu bù rěn rén zhī xīn， sī yòu bù rěn rén zhī zhèng yǐ。”“ bù rěn rén zhī xīn” shì yī zhǒng tóng qíng rén 'ài zhī xīn。 dàn shì， zhè zhǒng tóng qíng rén 'ài zhī xīn bù tóng yú mò zǐ de“ jiān 'ài”， ér shì cóng xuè yuán de gǎn qíng chū fā de。 mèng zǐ zhù zhāng，“ qīn qīn 'ér rén mín”，“ lǎo wú lǎo yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo， yòu wú yòu yǐ jí rén zhī yòu”。 rén zhèng jiù shì zhè zhǒng bù rěn rén zhī xīn zài zhèng zhì shàng de tǐ xiàn。
mèng zǐ bǎ lún lǐ hé zhèng zhì jǐn mì jié hé qǐ lái， qiáng diào dào dé xiū yǎng shì gǎo hǎo zhèng zhì de gēn běn。 tā shuō：“ tiān xià zhī běn zài guó， guó zhī běn zài jiā， jiā zhī běn zài shēn。” hòu lái《 dà xué》 tí chū de“ xiū qí zhì píng” jiù shì gēn jù mèng zǐ de zhè zhǒng sī xiǎng fā zhǎn 'ér lái de。
dào dé lún lǐ
mèng zǐ bǎ dào dé guī fàn gài kuò wéi sì zhǒng， jí rén、 yì、 lǐ、 zhì。 tóng shí bǎ rén lún guān xì gài kuò wéi wǔ zhǒng， jí“ fù zǐ yòu qīn， jūn chén yòu yì， fū fù yòu bié， cháng yòu yòu xù， péng yǒu yòu xìn”。 mèng zǐ rèn wéi， rén、 yì、 lǐ、 zhì sì zhě zhī zhōng， rén、 yì zuì wéi zhòng yào。 rén、 yì de jī chǔ shì xiào、 tì， ér xiào、 tì shì chù lǐ fù zǐ hé xiōng dì xuè yuán guān xì de jī běn de dào dé guī fàn。 tā rèn wéi rú guǒ měi gè shè huì chéng yuán dū yòng rén yì lái chù lǐ gè zhǒng rén yǔ rén de guān xì， fēng jiàn zhì xù de wěn dìng hé tiān xià de tǒng yī jiù yòu liǎo kě kào bǎo zhèng。
wèile shuō míng zhè xiē dào dé guī fàn de qǐ yuán， mèng zǐ tí chū liǎo xìng shàn lùn de sī xiǎng。 tā rèn wéi， jìn guǎn gè gè shè huì chéng yuán zhī jiān yòu fēn gōng de bù tóng hé jiē jí de chā bié， dàn shì tā men de rén xìng què shì tóng yī de。 tā shuō：“ gù fán tóng lèi zhě， jǔ xiāng sì yě， hé dú zhì yú rén 'ér yí zhī？ shèng rén yǔ wǒ tóng lèi zhě。” zhè lǐ， mèng zǐ bǎ tǒng zhì zhě hé bèi tǒng zhì zhě bǎi zài píng děng de dì wèi， tàn tǎo tā men suǒ jù yòu de pǔ biàn de rén xìng。 zhè zhǒng tàn tǎo shì yìng yú dāng shí nú lì jiě fàng hé shè huì biàn gé de lì shǐ cháo liú， biāo zhì zhe rén lèi rèn shí de shēn huà， duì lún lǐ sī xiǎng de fā zhǎn shì yī gè jù dà de tuī jìn。
Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko, was born in the State of Zou (simp.:邹国; trad.: 鄒國; pinyin: zōu guó; Wade-Giles: tsou1 kuo2), now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng (邹城; originally Zouxian), Shandong province, only thirty kilometres (eighteen miles) south of Qufu, Confucius' birthplace.
He was an itinerant Chinese philosopher and sage, and one of the principal interpreters of Confucianism. Supposedly, he was a pupil of Confucius' grandson, Zisi. Like Confucius, according to legend, he travelled China for forty years to offer advice to rulers for reform. He served as an official during the Warring States Period (403–221 BCE) in the State of Qi (齊; pinyin: qí; 1046 BC to 221 BC) from 319 to 312 BCE. He expressed his filial devotion when he took an absence of three years from his official duties for Qi to mourn his mother's death. Disappointed at his failure to effect changes in his contemporary world, he retired from public life.
Mencius' mother
The traditional Chinese four-character idiom 孟母三遷 (pinyin: mèng mǔ sān qiān; Zhuyin/Bopomofo: ㄇㄥ ㄇㄨ ㄙㄢ ㄑ一ㄢ; Kana: もうぼさんせん; Romaji: mou bo san sen; literal translation: Mencius' mother, three moves) refers to the legend that Mencius' mother moved their house three times—from beside a cemetery to beside a marketplace, to finally beside a school—before finding a location that she felt was suitable for his upbringing. As an expression, the idiom refers to the importance of a proper environment for the proper upbringing of children.
Influence
Mencius' interpretation of Confucianism has generally been considered the orthodox version by subsequent Chinese philosophers, especially the Neo-Confucians of the Song dynasty. The Mencius (also spelled Mengzi or Meng-tzu), a book of his conversations with kings of the time, is one of the Four Books that Zhu Xi grouped as the core of orthodox Neo-Confucian thought. In contrast to the sayings of Confucius which are short and self-contained, the Mencius consists of long dialogues, including arguments, with extensive prose.
View on human nature
While Confucius himself did not explicitly focus on the subject of human nature, Mencius asserted the innate goodness of the individual, believing that it was society's influence – its lack of a positive cultivating influence – that caused bad moral character. "He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature" and "the way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind".
His translator James Legge finds a close similarity between Mencius' views on human nature and those in Bishop Butler's Sermons on Human Nature.
The Four Beginning
To show innate goodness, Mencius used the example of a child falling down a well. Witnesses of this event immediately feel
“ alarm and distress, not to gain friendship with the child's parents, nor to seek the praise of their neighbors and friends, nor because they dislike the reputation [of lack of humanity if they did not rescue the child]...
The feeling of commiseration is the beginning of humanity; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference and compliance is the beginning of propriety; and the feeling of right and wrong is the beginning of wisdom.
Men have these Four Beginnings just as they have their four limbs. Having these Four Beginnings, but saying that they cannot develop them is to destroy themselves.
”
View on politic
Portrait painting of Mencius from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
Portrait painting of Mencius from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
Mencius spoke frequently and highly of the well-field system.
Mencius emphasized the significance of the common citizens in the state. While Confucianism generally regards rulers highly, he argued that it is acceptable for the subjects to overthrow or even kill a ruler who ignores the people's needs and rules harshly. This is because a ruler who does not rule justly is no longer a true ruler. Speaking of the overthrow of the wicked King Zhou of Shang, Mencius said, "I have merely heard of killing a villain Zhou, but I have not heard of murdering [him as] the ruler.".
View on war
He said during the Spring and Autumn Period, there's no Just war.
Comparisons to contemporarie
His alleged years make him contemporary with Xun Zi, Zhuangzi, Gaozi, and Plato.
Xun Zi
Xun Zi was a Confucian who believed that human nature is originally evil, and the purpose of moral cultivation is to develop our nature into goodness. Obviously, Mencius was at odds with him. His views were declared as unorthodox by Zhu Xi, and Mencius as orthodox.
Plato
Mencius is often compared to Plato for their theories on human nature. Both were idealists in that they believed in the innate moral goodness of all human beings.
Mencius' argument that unjust rulers may be overthrown is reminiscent of Socrates' argument in Book I of Plato's Republic.
Notes and reference
1. ^ The original clan name was Mengsun (孟孫), and was shortened into Meng (孟). It is unknown whether this occurred before or after Mencius's life.
2. ^ Traditionally, his courtesy name was assumed to be Ziche (子車), sometimes incorrectly written as Ziyu (子輿) or Ziju (子居), but recent scholarly works show that these courtesy names appeared in the 3rd century CE and apply to another historical figure named Meng Ke who also lived in Chinese antiquity and was mistaken for Mencius.
3. ^ That is, the second sage after Confucius. Name given in 1530 by Emperor Jiajing. In the two centuries before 1530, the posthumous name was "The Second Sage Duke of Zou" (鄒國亞聖公) which is still the name that can be seen carved in the Mencius ancestral temple in Zoucheng.
4. ^ Romanized as Mencius.
5. ^ Chan 1963: 49.
6. ^ The Mencius 7:A1 in Chan 1963: 78.
7. ^ The Mencius 6:A11 in Chan 1963: 58.
8. ^ The Mencius 2A:6 in Chan 1963: 65. Formatting has been applied to ease readability.
9. ^ The Mencius 1B:8 in Chan 1963: 62.
* Chan, Wing-tsit (translated and compiled). A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1963.
* Graham, A.C., Disputers of the TAO: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Open Court 1993). ISBN 0-8126-9087-7