Mencius
Mencius
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Mencius' full name was Meng Ke, and he is commonly known as Mencius in Western translations.
Birth and Death Dates
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Mencius was born in 371 BCE in the state of Zou, which is now part of Shandong Province in China. He died in 289 BCE at the age of 82.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Mencius was Chinese, and his profession was a philosopher and politician. He was a Confucian scholar who lived during the Warring States period of ancient China.
Early Life and Background
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Mencius was born into a humble family in Zou. His father was a farmer, but he died when Mencius was young. Mencius' mother continued to care for him and instilled in him a love of learning. He was particularly drawn to the teachings of Confucius, who had lived a century before him. When Mencius was 17 years old, he traveled to the state of Lu, where he met with Zisi, the grandson of Confucius.
Major Accomplishments
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Mencius is considered one of the most important figures in Chinese thought after Confucius. He is known for his advocacy of a more humane and compassionate approach to governance. Mencius argued that government should be based on morality and ethics rather than self-interest or power. He also believed that education was essential for cultivating moral leaders.
Notable Works or Actions
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Mencius' most famous works are the Mengzi, which is a collection of dialogues and lectures on Confucian philosophy. These writings have had a profound influence on East Asian thought, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. Mencius also traveled extensively throughout his life, advising rulers and promoting his ideas.
Impact and Legacy
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Mencius' ideas about government and morality have shaped Chinese politics and culture for centuries. He is credited with helping to establish Confucianism as the dominant philosophy of ancient China. His emphasis on education and moral leadership has also had a lasting impact on East Asian societies. Today, Mencius is remembered as one of the most important figures in Chinese history.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Mencius' writings are still widely studied today because they offer insights into ancient Chinese thought and culture. His emphasis on morality and compassion continues to inspire people around the world. Many leaders, including Mao Zedong, have been influenced by Mencius' ideas about governance and leadership.
In conclusion, Mencius was a profound thinker who left an indelible mark on East Asian philosophy. His legacy extends far beyond his own time and place, offering wisdom that continues to inspire people today.
Quotes by Mencius
Mencius's insights on:
There are things a person wants more than life and there are also things he or she loathes more than death.
There are people dying from famine on the roads, and you do not issue the stores of your granaries for them. When people die, you say, ‘it is not owing to me, it is owing to the year.’ In what does this differ from stabbing a man and killing him, and then saying, ’it was not I, it was the weapon?
When men are subdued by force, they do not submit in their minds, but only because their strength is inadequate. When men are subdued by power in personality they are pleased to their very heart’s core and do really submit.
Make your learning abundant and speak of it with precision, then you will speak of essentials.
People are distressed by their inability to do it. The problem, however, is simply that they don’t do it.
Treat others as you would be treated. Devote yourself to that, for there’s no more direct approach to Humanity.
Treat your elders as elders, and extend it to the elders of others; treat your young ones as young ones, and extend it to the young ones of others; then you can turn the whole world in the palm of your hand.