Mencius and Confucius are two of the most well-known and influential philosophers in Chinese history. They both lived during the Eastern Zhou period, a time of great political and social turmoil in China. Although both philosophers are considered to be part of the Confucian tradition, they had different views on how to achieve a just and harmonious society.
Confucius was born in the state of Lu in the 6th century BCE. He believed that the key to creating a harmonious society was for rulers to lead by example and cultivate virtue in themselves and their subjects. He also emphasized the importance of filial piety, respect for authority, and the importance of education and self-cultivation.
Mencius, on the other hand, was born in the state of Zou in the 4th century BCE. He believed that rulers had a moral responsibility to govern justly and provide for the needs of their subjects. He argued that rulers who failed to do so were not legitimate rulers and could be overthrown. Mencius also believed that people had an innate sense of right and wrong, and that rulers should encourage this sense in order to create a just society.
Despite their differences, both Mencius and Confucius were concerned with creating a just and harmonious society. They both believed that rulers had a moral responsibility to govern justly, and that education and self-cultivation were important for cultivating virtue. However, their approaches differed in terms of how to achieve these goals. While Confucius emphasized the importance of rulers leading by example and cultivating virtue in themselves and their subjects, Mencius argued that rulers had a more direct moral responsibility to govern justly and provide for the needs of their subjects.
Overall, the ideas of Mencius and Confucius continue to be influential in modern Chinese society and have had a lasting impact on the development of Confucianism as a philosophical tradition.
Confucianism vs Neo Confucianism
Then, when the commands of government have been fixed and the customs of the people unified, if there should be those who depart from the customary ways and refuse to obey their superiors, the common people will as one man turn upon them with hatred, and regard them with loathing, like an evil force that must be exorcised. As a well-educated philosophical man, he realized the problem was chaos and unrest. The first book of Mencius begins by describing his visit to King Hui of Liang in Wei; he ruled from 370 to 319 BC. The Legalists think that these systems are the result of rational trends while the Mohists attribute them to a mysterious kind of love. Confucius was also trapped at Kuang and thought his favorite student, Yen Hui, was dead. One should not try to please others in an improper way nor be lavish with one's words.
Compare and Contrast of Mencius and Confucius Essay Example
But when the ruler loves humanity, the people will love justice and carry the affairs of the state to completion. Confucius Confucius was brought up as a gentleman, who took up music, archery, and fishing, although he said he fished without a net and would not shoot at a bird at rest. Yet he prophesied that heaven was going to use their master as a bell with a wooden tongue. Xun-zi considered ceremonies as markers of the way to guide the people. Confucius preferred education and philosophy over military strength as is later reflected in Chinese society where scholars were revered and military personnel treated as out casts.
In the final eulogy at the end of Xun-zi's book, a commentator explained that Xun-zi had a harder time than Confucius, because he was oppressed by a chaotic age that was intimidated by threats of stern punishment, as rulers faced the aggression of Qin. According to Mencius, education must awaken the innate abilities of the human mind. Good government reduces punishment and taxation, gets the people to plow deeply and weed promptly, and helps the able to learn. He believed that order needed to be restored in humanity. Confucianism contributed to the downfall of the Zhou Dynasty, bringing in new values and social behaviors to the civilization. He claimed that military deception is of no use against a good person and a state that is not torn apart.
In addition to teaching, Confucius is credited with editing the Book of Odes and the Spring and Autumn Annals, revising the music and ceremonies, and writing commentaries on the Book of Changes. In the commentary Confucius is quoted as saying that he could handle litigations as well as anyone, but what is needed is for people not to have litigations at all. Confucianism imparts to Aristotle mindfulness that for people to be great, they require moral astuteness and in addition different demeanors of character, yet Confucianism places more prominent accentuation on the part of reflection and concentrate in the improvement of good insight Provis, 2017. Mencius discusses other virtues in addition to benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and propriety, but it seems that they are ultimately manifestations of the preceding virtues. We must also mention the universe here. In starting an enterprise a gentleman can only leave behind a tradition that can be carried on. The thought that I have not properly cultivated virtue, that what is learned has not been thoroughly discussed, that knowing what is right I have not moved toward it, that what is wrong I have not been able to change - these are the things which bother me.
To be socially benevolent is to be benevolent with family and friends, such as following the filial piety. In the same way that all children should obey their fathers commands. Their thoughtful works were comparable in nature, yet with some unique perspectives, thoughts, and points of view toward temperance. According to Mencius, people would come first while Nations and Empires would follow in the line. This paper examines some of the ways by which Mencius philosophical theory would be different from that one of Confucius. In addition to the Analects of Confucius Lun Yu and the books of Mencius and Xun-zi, another minor Confucian classic was the Book of Filial Piety Xiao Jing , which was traditionally ascribed to Zeng-zi, the disciple of Confucius who emphasized this virtue.
Comparing The Philosophies Of Mencius And Han Feizi
The just person is in accord with people inwardly and things outwardly, at peace with those above and in harmony with the people below. The mind is the ruler of the body and the master of its intelligence. Their teachings advocated for proper education and self-cultivation to develop the cardinal virtues of humanness, appropriateness, propriety and wisdom. He hoped that even if he was not recognized in the world, he would be known in heaven. Without dignity one will not be respected by the common people, and the rules of propriety must also be followed.
Thanks to the long lasting scriptures of these ancient thinkers and rulers, today, we are fortunate to be given the knowledge to understand the thoughts of sages; who lived thousands of years before us. Filial scholars have equal love for their mothers and fathers and their prince; they show love to their mothers, reverence to their prince, and both to their fathers. When the way does prevail, one may show oneself and be bold in speech and action. If ministers admonish the ruler, a state will not be lost even if the ruler is not virtuous. Yet a lazy student helped Confucius himself to learn that he must not only listen to what people say and but also watch to see what they do. Confucius also thought that education was important because it led to better character and a better understanding of Heaven. Therefore, Confucianism can be applied to human rights rhetoric, it can especially be connected to human rights documents like the Universal Declaration of Mencius vs.
Evil words uttered will be uttered back to one. When sad, he maintains inner peace. This all came to pass; but then Yue launched a surprise attack on Wu, killed their king and prime minister, and by 470 BC had become protector. Zilu 542-480 BC appointed a student Confucius considered slow as steward, and the master said that it would ruin him. Examining texts that discuss benevolence can afford us a glimpse of how this process works. He observed that Qin used a system of rewards and punishments to build up their strength and expand their territory with repeated victories in the last four generations.
