Mencius Introduction

Author: Wang Shichao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: In Chinese history, the imperial examination system, which was based on studying Confucian classics, lasted for over 1,300 years before being abolished in 1912. Traditional cultural classics indeed possess advantages that general textbooks cannot match, and this is primarily due to their exceptionally rich cultural content. Learners not only gain comprehensive knowledge (including literary, historical, and philosophical knowledge as well as the core cultural beliefs of a nation) but also gradually develop a refined moral character through implicit influence. Without a doubt, cultural classics often represent the exemplary conduct and noble words of ancient sages and virtuous figures. For instance, one of the "Four Books" (Daxue, Zhongyong, Lunyu, Mengzi), Lunyu, was recognized by ancient scholars as a direct way to learn from sages like Confucius. Today, secondary school Chinese textbooks have significantly increased the emphasis on classical Chinese. This is a wise move in the field of language education. However, it also presents a challenge: how to improve students' proficiency in classical Chinese? We might ask: if our primary and secondary school students could all read and basically memorize the "Four Books," would we still need to worry about their classical Chinese skills? At the same time, if our university students could also catch up on this, their fundamental cultural literacy, including their language abilities, would experience a qualitative leap. Regarding Confucianism,'s confidence stems from his foresight. His grand prophecy that "those who flee from the black will inevitably return to the yang, and those who flee from the yang will return to Confucianism" was undeniably confirmed by history. For this alone, Mengzi is worth reading.