Mencius

Author: Mencius of the Warring States
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features:▼Complete Content▼Sandalwood Aroma▼Compact and Lightweight▼Original Illustrations▼Portable
Mencius was one of the most influential masters of Confucianism after Confucius and was revered as the "Second Sage." The Tang Dynasty thinker Han Yu believed that only Mencius truly grasped and inherited the essence of Confucius, stating, "After Mencius' death, the true transmission was lost," highlighting Mencius' status.
Mencius wholeheartedly admired and studied Confucius, believing that "Since the beginning of humanity, no one has been greater than Confucius" and "If I had a wish, it would be to study Confucius." Mencius traveled to various states, promoting his ideas of the "King's Way" and "benevolent governance," tirelessly for twenty years, once becoming a guest scholar of King Xuan of Qi. However, at that time, the feudal lords were busy with the (horizontal and vertical alliances) wars of conquest, and no one was willing to adopt his advice. Mencius had no choice but to retreat to teaching and writing. In his teaching activities, he found great solace, once saying that a gentleman has "three joys": "Having both parents alive and no troubles among siblings, is the first joy; Looking up without shame to heaven and looking down without guilt to people, is the second joy; Educating the talents of the world, is the third joy".......