Mencius Quick Read

Author: Fang Yong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: The society of today is vastly different from the era of Mencius. Since the modern era, social customs have changed dramatically, with a focus on technology rather than humanities, and on "wisdom" rather than "ritual." However, we cannot entirely ignore the moral efforts of our ancestors in establishing the state and governance, who aimed to bring stability to the world while preserving vitality. Nor can we deny that in our endless yearning for a "prosperous and cultured society," there lies a warm and compassionate concern. When we interpret traditional cultural classics today, we should approach them with such respect—it is not about blindly inheriting the traditions, but rather seeking understanding, tolerance, and harmony through their interpretation, and extracting and decomposing the valuable parts that are relevant to today.