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4th century BCE

Mencius — Humane rule, people's lives, and forfeited status

If a ruler destroys people's livelihood and trust, can the same obedience still be demanded?

MenciusMengzi

Evidence-backed account

The received Mengzi transmits dialogues, arguments, and sayings, and its presentation must preserve the possibility of compilation by disciples or later followers.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: Received seven-book structure

    Open source

  • Mencius

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 1

    Open source

Mengzi 1A1 and 1A7 present arguments that rule should attend to people's livelihood and humane concern rather than narrow calculations of advantage.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: 1A1 and 1A7

    Open source

  • Social and Political Thought in Chinese Philosophy

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 2.3

    Open source

Mengzi 4B16 distinguishes subduing people by goodness from nurturing them through goodness and rejects an account of support grounded in force alone.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: 4B16

    Open source

  • Social and Political Thought in Chinese Philosophy

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 2.3

    Open source

Mengzi 1B8 redescribes the killing of an extreme tyrant not simply as regicide but as punishment of someone who had forfeited normative ruler status.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: 1B8

    Open source

  • Social and Political Thought in Chinese Philosophy

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 1

    Open source

The ordering of people, altars, and ruler in 7B14 strongly emphasizes the people, but it does not directly establish modern popular sovereignty or universal suffrage.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: 7B14

    Open source

  • Mencius

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 4

    Open source

The criticism of Mozi in 3B9 records a real polemic over differentiated and inclusive care, but it must not be treated as a neutral summary of Mohism.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Mengzi

    Transmitted Mencian tradition; Chinese Text Project · Classical Chinese text with James Legge historical English translation

    Locator: 3B9

    Open source

  • Mencius

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 4

    Open source
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