Mencius Parallels

Author: Nan Huaijin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: Mencius is a classic masterpiece of Confucianism and also the most important source for studying the life and deeds of Mencius and his doctrines. Many inspiring and time-honored maxims originate from it. Countless works have been written to interpret the thoughts of the "Second Sage," but almost none are suitable for contemporary readers. Under the influence of various theories during the Cultural Revolution, such as "criticizing Lin and Confucius" and the "struggle between Confucianism and legalism," contemporary people know almost nothing about Mencius's ideas. Unlike traditional scholars who overly emphasize textual exegesis, this book explains Mencius's thoughts through extensive references. It is a lecture record by the renowned Taiwanese scholar Nan Huaijin on Mencius. The author adopts the method of "combining classics and history," taking the original text of Mencius as the "classic" and the social background and activities of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as the "history," supplemented by various historical stories and social phenomena. It provides an in-depth explanation of Mencius's character in establishing himself and his influence on his thoughts. It allows readers to easily and profoundly absorb the nourishment of traditional Chinese culture in a lively atmosphere, enhancing their knowledge of history and literature, and gaining wisdom in life. At the end of the book, there is an appendix listing bibliographies of Mencius studies throughout history.