The Life Of Mencius
The Life Of Mencius, is an depth study of Mencius (371-289BC). Mencius is one of the most important figures in Chinaīs intellectual history. He is revered as the Second Sage of Confuciamism, which, through his personal example and the influence of his sayings, he helped to shape as a major ethical system which has impacted every aspect of Chinese civilization down to the present day. Indeed,his strss on the innate goodness of man, which only needs proper cultivation to bring it into full bloom, has a peculiarly modern tone:"The people are the most important,"he said,"...the sovereign conts for the least. "And," only when the people have steady livelihoods will they have steady hearts." An unusual aspects of Menciusīlife was the influence of his mother,who guided him onto the path of wisdom and truth. To this day, she is revered in China as a model of motherhood. But, like Confucius before him, Mencius was born in troubled times; the constantly battling rulers of the Warring States had little time for his lectures on humane government. But his life is an inspiring saga of someone who fought all offs to uphold the timeless doctrine of the innate worth of man.
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