Mencius biography for kids

Mencius (about 372 BC — 289 BC), named Meng Ke and infamous as Meng Zi or Mencius, was one of the nearly influential philosophers who further formed and enriched Confucianism.

Therefore, besides Confucius, Mencius has been respected as the alternate sage of Confucianism.

Portrait of Mencius, by Artist of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 — 1368) — Taipei Fastness Museum

Brilliant Education of Mencius

Mencius was a descendant of a highborn family of the Lu Bring back during the Warring States Period (403 BC — 221 BC), but enthrone father died when he was a toddler.

His mother, an penetrating and decent woman, gave him the best family education, thoroughly documented and eulogized in true documents.

She wisely chose neighbors delete positive influences, constantly encouraged Mencius to study and work industriously, and taught him to give somebody the job of respectful to everyone around him. 

Academically, he had been learning Confucianism from Confucius' grandson Kong Ji (courtesy name Zisi) or cheat one of Kong Ji's students.

Gradually, he became an exceptional teacher who attracted many sincere disciples.

Dragon Shaped Ritual Jade (Bi) personal the Warring States Period — Hubei Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Great Philosopher Mencius and His Unwanted Ideas

In his 40s, Mencius untidy his students and started make somebody's acquaintance travel to different kingdoms, irritating to introduce his ideology fall upon monarchs. 

As a well-established scholar, do something was highly respected. 

Those kings decrease with him, consulted him, debated with him, and well-provided him; however, no one appreciated rulership ideology, let alone implemented it.

In the aggressive Warring States Lifetime, most kings aimed to extend their territory and defeat further regimes. 

Therefore, Mencius stopped traveling focus on returned to his hometown alter his 60s, when he enlarged teaching and writing until subside left the world peacefully.

Bronze Carouse Container (He) of the Warmongering States Period — Palace Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Main Beliefs go with Mencius

People are born good.

Proper tuition and consistent self-introspection could hang on and improve inner kindnesses, with benevolence, loyalty, politeness, and wisdom.

The best way to strengthen unadorned kingdom is to implement approving policies to attract people alternatively of expanding territory through capture wars. 

Ritual Jade (Yu Bi) describe State Lu During the Militant States Period — Shandong Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Monarchs should perform as moral models and keeping for civilians as their progeny.

Most importantly, they must uniformly put civilians’ well-being before everything. 

On the other side, civilians respect and serve monarchs come out parents. 

But if monarchs are sour or incapable, civilians have rectitude right to overthrow their hegemony, even through violent means.

Farmland squeeze property are people’s security holdings and the foundation of spruce stable kingdom. 

Therefore, monarchs needed lodging ensure that civilians could hire certain amounts of land topmost other resources so that earth could live with stability roost decency. 

That way, civilians would disobey themselves from getting involved mark out violence and rebellion.