Mozi

Name: Mozi
ISBN: 9787101113631

Bruce LeeZhonghua Book Company · ChinaDec 2021

4.3

Word count: 62 words
ISBN: 9787101113631

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Summary

A representative work of the Mohist school during the Warring States period, and a remarkable book in Chinese culture. Mozi, a native of the state of Song living from the end of the Spring and Autumn period into the early Warring States period, founded the Mohist school, whose doctrine stood alongside Confucianism as one of the 'prominent teachings' of the age. He advanced such views as universal love, condemnation of aggression, honoring the worthy, conformity with superiors, the will of heaven, understanding ghosts, opposition to fatalism and to music, and moderation in funerals and expenditure. He also established a complete body of scientific theory outstanding for its achievements in geometry, physics, and optics.

Editor's review

The Mozi is an indispensable text in the history of ancient Chinese thought. The edition translated and annotated by Li Xiaolong, published by Zhonghua Book Company, opens a door to the halls of Mohist thought for contemporary readers through its rigorous scholarship and clear modern language. Mohism, often mentioned alongside Confucianism as a "prominent school," espoused core ideas such as "universal love," "opposition to offensive war," "exalting the worthy," and "economy in expenditure," which still carry profound contemporary relevance. The unique value of this book lies in the fact that Professor Li Xiaolong, the translator and annotator, not only provides an accurate vernacular translation but also includes detailed notes and chapter introductions that lucidly analyze Mozi's logical method (the "three standards"), his scientific thought (early forms of optics and mechanics), and his theories of military defense, transforming a seemingly abstruse classic into an understandable and thought-provoking resource of wisdom. Particularly commendable is the way the annotations trace the internal logic and historical context of the text, helping readers move beyond a simple literal understanding to grasp the subtleties of the Mohist system. For readers who wish to systematically understand pre-Qin non-Confucian thought, explore the origins of ancient Chinese science and logic, or are interested in philosophies of equality, peace, and pragmatism, this edition is a reliable and illuminating choice. It is not a simple reproduction of an ancient text but a carefully crafted guide that leads modern minds into dialogue with classical wisdom.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in pre-Qin Chinese philosophy and intellectual history
Students and researchers seeking to understand major classical thought systems beyond Confucianism
Explorers curious about ancient Chinese science and the early forms of logic
Modern thinkers seeking a historical dialogue with universal values such as peace, equality, and frugality

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only light, narrative-driven reading or literary appreciation
Those completely unfamiliar with ancient Chinese classics and unwilling to invest the patience for systematic reading

Reading tips

It is recommended to first read the "Introduction" or "Preface" to build an overall understanding of the Mohist intellectual context and the annotation style of this edition
Adopt a thematic reading approach—for example, focus on chapters such as "Universal Love" and "Opposition to Offensive War," then read dialogic chapters like "Geng Zhu" and "Valuing Righteousness" to observe how thought and character are combined
When reading annotations, consider them alongside the original text; try to understand how the annotator resolves interpretive difficulties—this process itself is a training in scholarly thinking

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

FAQ

What are the main features of this edition of the Mozi compared with other editions?

This edition is translated and annotated by the scholar Li Xiaolong and is based on Zhonghua Book Company's high standards for organizing ancient texts. Its features include an accurate and fluent vernacular translation; annotations that not only explain words but also elucidate the logic of thought and historical background; and chapter introductions. It combines scholarliness with readability and is well suited to readers who wish to understand Mohist thought in depth.

Does reading the Mozi require a lot of prior knowledge of classical Chinese?

Li Xiaolong's annotated edition provides a complete modern Chinese translation and detailed notes, greatly lowering the threshold for reading classical Chinese. Readers do not need a deep foundation in classical Chinese—only ordinary reading patience—and can understand the text with the help of the translation and notes. Of course, some basic knowledge of ancient Chinese history will help in better grasping the intellectual background.

What relevance does Mozi's thought still have for modern society?

Mozi's "universal love" (impartial care) advocates a broad love that transcends close and distant relations; "opposition to offensive war" opposes unjust wars; "economy in expenditure" promotes frugality and opposes extravagance; and "exalting the worthy" advocates appointing people on merit. These ideas still offer important inspiration and points of reference for thinking about peaceful development, resource distribution, social fairness, and talent selection in today's society.

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About the author

Bruce Lee Author · Chinese-American · 1940–1973

Bruce Lee (1940–1973), born Lee Jun-fan, was a Chinese-American martial artist and kung fu film star. Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, he studied Wing Chun under Ip Man and later founded Jeet Kune Do. He starred in films such as The Big Boss, Way of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon, bringing Chinese kung fu to the world, and is one of the most influential cultural icons of the 20th century. This site holds 13 related works, including The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, The Artist of Life, Bruce Lee's Fitness Method and posthumous collections, spanning classics, culture, sports, biography, foreign literature and health. Also attributed to this name are Night Voyage Boat (plain-text edition), Mozi and A Record of Books: Poems on Seeking Books in Japan; the range is wide, public information is limited, and the circumstances of these compilations remain to be verified.