The Wisdoms of China: Mencious

The pre Qin Confucianism and Buddha China philosophy, three thinking good reading so far is still full of wisdom, giving people the inspiration. The essence of these Chinese culture is also attractive to many foreigners.
English version of "Chinese wisdom" series for foreign readers, the exploration of Confucius, and grandson, Lao Tzu Mencius, Chuang-tzu and other cultural sages legendary life with the perspective of modern people; with vivid stories and line drawing techniques, interpretation of their wisdom and thoughts; through comparing the performance of the Chinese and foreign history and culture, Chinese cultural heritage and the mutual influence Chinese between traditional culture and Western culture.

The pre-Qin Confucian philosophy and Taoism, are full of wisdom, giving modern time people profound inspiration and enlightment. They represent the essence of the Chinese culture.

The Wisdom of China is a series for foreign readers. They tell of the lives and wisdom of ancient sages including Confucius, Lao Tzu, Sun Zi, Menciu and Chuang-tzu. From these readers are expected to the cultural wisdom of the Chinese.

As the books are treated with living stories, readers will feel close to the time sages and find it easy to understand their philosophies. A survey among the potential readers show these books are easy to understand and the best channel to understand a cultural China.

The series books include CONFUCIUS: A Philosopher for the Ages, LAO TZU: The Eternal Tao Te Ching， MENCIUS: A Benevolent Saint for the Ages， SUN TZU: The Ultimate Master of War， ZHUANGZI: Enjoyment of Life in an Untroubled State. For the compilation of these books, the authors went to hometowns of these sages and hit numerous books in library. Many of their contents are available to readers for the first time.

Confucius and Mencius are known in the Chinese history as the two greatest sages. In the two millennia that have passed since Mencius lived, his thoughts and ideas have continued to have a major influence on the Chinese people. Even today, people can be regularly heard to quote the sayings of this man….

CONTENTS

Introduction

Childhood

A Wandering Scholar

‘Benevolent Kingship’ Vs ‘Hegemony’

Mencius and King of Wei

Mencius and King of Qi

Mencius’ Spirit

Quotations from Mencius

Mencius’ Spirit

In 312 BC when he was 62 years old, Mencius gave up the patronage of Qi Xuan Wang and left the State of Qi.

Again Mencius had tasted failure in protracted dealings with a ruling monarch. One must attribute a large portion of the reason for the great man’s failure to the spirit of the times. This time of conflict was one where the ears of rulers were closed to all but the aggressive counsel of war and acquisition. There was no place in those days for enlightened benevolence and compassion.

As the slanting rays of the sun shone wanly on his stooped figure, accompanied by his many disciples and students, Mencius left the lands of Qi and headed for his hometown. He settled in the land where he had been born and grown up and where his dear mother now rested in the earth. Mencius set up a school there and continued to spread his theories of benevolent administration, determined to sow seeds that might blossom when the times were more propitious. Mencius provided people with a living example of how an upright person should live his life no matter how many frustrations and how much heartbreak that life might contain.

From a historical perspective, the most important thing about Mencius was his great perseverance and faith in the face of countless setbacks and disappointments. His ideas about the relationship between justice and the common good are lessons that echo down through the ages to our own time. He teaches us the importance of life but beyond that something even more important than life: a belief, a spirit that makes our lives meaningful.

Mencius was the very epitome of benevolence and compassion. He advocated the ideal of “the truly great man”: one whom no amount of money and power could corrupt; whom no pover ty or hardship could dispirit; whom no tyrant or oppressor could silence. This conception of the right way to live one’s life has had a profound influence on Chinese civilization and many of the great minds of successive eras have done their best to live up to these ideals.

Mencius’ life and teachings form an important link with his great predecessor, Confucius and are an important link in the universal chain that forms the spirit of the Chinese nation. From very ancient times right down to the present day, idealistic people, common people included, have been inspired by this spirit which has blended with the very lifeblood of the nation...

Introduction

Some 2,400 years ago in China, an ordinary man journeyed to the imperial palace where the king lived. This man was sufficiently bold to dare to rebuke the king for his mistakes. He fearlessly informed the king that if he was not qualified to rule, he should step down and make way for a better king. He even confidently advanced his own theory of government: “The people are the most important element in a State; next come the gods of land and grain; least of all is the ruler himself.” This was undoubtedly the first Chinese expression of a theory of democratic administration. For an ordinary person to advance these progressive ideas and to criticize the behaviour of an all - powerful monarch was at this time to risk his life. In the two millennia that have passed since this man lived, his thoughts and ideas have continued to have a major influence on the Chinese people. Even today, people can be regularly heard to quote the sayings of this man. This brave and intelligent person is known to history as Mencius - a benevolent saint for the ages. In the 5th century BC, two of the greatest thinkers in the history of Western civilization - Socrates and Plato - were born in the lands of the Greek archipelago. Amazingly, in the same century, two of the most renowned philosophers of eastern civilization - Confucius and Mencius - were born in the lands that are now known as China. Confucius is well known in the West, but most Westerners are unfamiliar with Mencius and not many have even heard of him. In contrast, in China, Mencius is regarded with just as much respect and reverence as is Confucius.Illustration