Mencius: National Treasure Collection of Chinese Classics

Author: Wang Limin (Translation and Review)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: In China, the stories of "Meng Mu San Qian" (Meng Mu's Three Relocations) and "Meng Mu Duan Ji Zhu" (Meng Mu Cutting the Weaving Shuttle) are widely known. This far-sighted mother truly did not waste her efforts, as her son Meng Ke eventually gained enduring fame in Chinese history, being called "Kong Meng" alongside Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. Mengzi himself was revered as the "Yaseng" (Second Sage). In this nearly 35,000-word work, the author constructs a complete and vast Mengxue (Mengzi's thought) system. For thousands of years, countless scholars have meticulously analyzed this extensive philosophical system, either through annotations, chapter summaries, or other methods such as lateral connections and personal insights, highlighting the values in Mengxue. As part of traditional culture, Mengzi's philosophy is not without flaws. His view of human nature as inherently good, along with many arguments built upon this premise, are generally idealized and some are difficult to realize in any society. However, Mengzi was after all a thinker who championed the special essence of human goodness, so his theories on human nature hold eternal value. Whether in the past, present, or future, they continue to inspire humanity's exploration of itself and hold significant implications for promoting the comprehensive development of individuals and the harmonious progress of society.