34. Mencius: The Mencius
A Sourcebook in Global Philosophy - Mohammed Rustom
Winnie Sung [+]
Nanyang Technological University
Description
Mengzi or Mencius (d. 312 BCE) was born in the state of Zou in ancient China, which is located in present-day Shandong Province. It is generally believed that Mencius received a good education when he was young. He regarded himself as a transmitter of Confucius’s thought but never studied directly under him (although he probably studied with the disciple of Confucius’s grandson, Zisi). Mencius has always been held in high regard in the Confucian tradition, and is regarded as “the second sage” by later Confucians. Mencius is most well-known for his view that human nature is good. Midway in his life, Mencius accepted some disciples and started traveling to different states, wherein he would advise rulers to practice governance that is characterized by ren 仁 (humaneness). He was normally received with open arms in the states that he had visited, although the rulers of these states often found his ideals difficult to put into practice. In his late age, Mencius returned to his hometown and continued teaching. After Mencius’ death, his disciples and later followers compiled a record of his key sayings and deeds into a single text simply known as the Mencius.