Mencius

by Mencius, D. C. Lau (Translator), D. C. Lau (Introduction), D. C. Lau (Noted by)

Overview

Mencius was one of the great philosophers of ancient China, second only in influence to Confucius, whose teachings he defended and expanded. The Mencius, in which he recounts his dialogues with kings, dukes and military men, as well as other philosophers, is one of the Four Books that make up the essential Confucian corpus. It takes up Confucius's theories of jen, or goodness and yi, righteousness, explaining that the individual can achieve harmony with mankind and the universe by perfecting his innate moral nature and acting with benevolence and justice. Mencius' strikingly modern views on the duties of subjects and their rulers or the evils of war, created a Confucian orthodoxy that has remained intact since the third century BCE.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141902685
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	10/28/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	860,793
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Mencius (372-298 BC) was one of the greatest Chinese philosophers, focusing on political theory and practice. Mencius, like Confucius, believed that rulers were divinely placed in order to guarantee peace and order among the people they rule. Unlike Confucius, Mencius believed that if a ruler failed to bring peace and order about, then the people could be absolved of all loyalty to that ruler and were justified to revolt.


D. C. Lau is a Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Table of Contents

Editor's Preface
Introduction
Book 1A
Book 1B
Book 2A
Book 2B
Book 3A
Book 3B
Book 4A
Book 4B
Book 5A
Book 5B
Book 6A
Book 6B
Book 7A
Book 7B
Glossary of Persons and Places

Editorial Reviews

Irene Bloom's book is an exemplification of the best Sinological scholarship. Its interpretive brilliance will be a source of inspiration for years to come.

Tu Weiming

While Mencius may be generally more 'accessible' when compared with other classical Chinese texts, as P. J. Ivanhoe observes, it is still a challenge to capture in translation the flavor of its fine prose and the force of its arguments. This, I think, is precisely what Bloom sets out to do, and we are richly rewarded for her effort. Her translation is eminently reliable and has a graceful directness and simplicity. Ivanhoe's introduction helpfully highlights key ethical, political, and religious views and relates them to relevant contemporary philosophical debates. This book will be widely used and consulted by scholars.

Alan K. L. Chan

Irene Bloom is a sensitive and well-trained scholar. Her translation of Mencius, one of the most influential philosophical works ever written in China, marks an important step forward for Asian and Confucian studies.

Harold D. Roth

A tremendous accomplishment that crowns Bloom's exemplary career.... Essential.

Choice

Accurate and very fluid; in addition to their other strengths, Bloom and Ivanhoe are both gifted writers of English

Journal of Chinese Studies