Mencius

孟子及其弟子Sep 2014

4.5

Word count: 136K words
Chapters: 28

Summary

The Mencius was compiled in the middle of the Warring States period by Mencius and his disciples, among them Wan Zhang and Gongsun Chou. One account holds that it is a record made by Mencius's direct disciples and their disciples; another holds that Mencius wrote the book himself. The earliest attribution comes from Zhao Qi's 'Preface to the Mencius,' which states: 'This book was written by Mencius himself, and is therefore collectively called Mencius.' The differing views concern how the text was compiled and recorded.

Editor's review

The power of the Mencius lies in placing ideas within dialogue and refutation rather than merely expounding principles in the abstract. Facing feudal lords, disciples, and opponents, Mencius often establishes his arguments through analogy, rhetorical questions, and layer-by-layer progression, revealing both the heat of idealism and the frustration of real politics. Reading it is not merely memorizing a few famous sayings but observing a mode of reasoning: first establish the great foundation, then distinguish names from realities, and finally press conclusions back into concrete situations. Read today, its discussions of the people's heart, righteousness versus profit, and character formation still have edge, but there are also points that clash with contemporary views—precisely suited to reading with judgment. Choose a reliable plain-text or lightly annotated edition, and read a few chapters around one topic at a time; this yields more than spreading effort evenly from beginning to end.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Liberal arts students who want a solid foundation in Chinese intellectual history
General readers interested in pre-Qin thinkers and Confucianism
Writers who want to train argumentative and reasoning skills
Middle school students reading the classics with a teacher or annotated edition

Not a good fit for

Readers who want pure literary stories and plot-driven reading
Readers who only want concise conclusions and are unwilling to engage with the argumentative process
Those expecting light reading in short essayistic texts

Reading tips

Read the chapters on righteousness versus profit, the people's heart, and character first, then expand to strongly argumentative passages.
After each chapter, write one sentence stating the problem Mencius addresses and his answer.
Keep a pen ready and mark analogies, rhetorical questions, and concluding sentences to observe the line of reasoning.
For views you disagree with, restate them before evaluating; avoid merely extracting famous sayings.

版权信息
目录
公版书总序
尊王言必称尧舜，忧世心切同禹颜——孟子
浩然正气存，雄辩江河裂——《孟子》
正文
卷一梁惠王上
卷二梁惠王下
卷三公孙丑上
卷四公孙丑下
卷五滕文公上
卷六滕文公下
卷七离娄上
卷八离娄下
卷九万章上
卷十万章下
卷十一告子上
卷十二告子下
卷十三尽心上
卷十四尽心下
如是我闻
一、《孟子》中的名言警句
二、《孟子》中的常用成语
三、《孟子》中的寓言故事
四、名师出高徒——孟子的弟子们
五、孟母教子
六、中国古代辩论趣事
七、经典语录体著作

FAQ

Who actually wrote the Mencius?

Traditionally there are theories that Mencius wrote it himself, or that disciples and second-generation disciples recorded it; no fully consistent conclusion exists to this day. You need not determine authorship first when reading; you can treat the text as a compilation of Warring States Confucian dialogue and argumentative material and focus on its problem consciousness, mode of reasoning, and intellectual positions.

Can I read the Mencius without a foundation in classical Chinese?

Yes, but choose an edition with brief notes or translation; read through for the general meaning first, then return to key words and sentences. Skip institutions, names, and allusions at first and grasp what the two sides in the dialogue are disputing; after reading a few chapters smoothly, gradually increase the proportion of original text—this is more effective than wrestling with every word from the start.

Should I memorize famous sayings or read the whole book?

The two can be combined. Famous sayings are easy to remember but easily lose context; first read several complete chapters to understand the questions and answers, then choose the lines that truly move you to memorize. This way you build vocabulary and also know what problems these words were responding to.

How should I read when the Mencius conflicts with modern ideas?

First distinguish the historical situation of the text from the universal questions it raises, then judge specific claims. You need not forcibly defend points you disagree with, nor dismiss them with a single sentence; note your doubts, compare later commentaries and relevant historical background, and form your own understanding.

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About the author

孟子及其弟子 Author

"Mencius and His Disciples" is the attributed authorship of the book Mencius. Publicly available information about the individuals behind this attribution is limited, and details such as their dates of birth and death or nationality are not clearly recorded. What can be established is that the book Mencius centers on the sayings and deeds of Mencius and was compiled with the participation of Mencius and his disciples, making it an important Confucian classic of the pre-Qin period. The work consists mainly of dialogues and debates, written in a vigorous and forceful style and skilled in the use of analogies and parables to argue points. It addresses topics such as benevolent governance, the goodness of human nature, and the distinction between righteousness and profit, while also touching on self-cultivation, education, and social governance. Its rhetoric is eloquent and incisive yet clearly structured, and it has had a profound influence on later prose writing and the transmission of Confucian thought. Together with the Analects, the Great Learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean, it is known as one of the "Four Books" and has long been studied by scholars.