Mencius (Penguin Classics)
by Mencius
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Book Summary Information
Author: MenciusTranslator: D. C. Lau
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-06-28
ISBN: 014044971X
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Book Reviews of Mencius (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: Many wonderful insights ... but Mencius will likely always be in Confucius' shadow
Summary: 4 Stars
First of all, this is an excellent edition of Mencius. The introduction is great, the translation is seamless, and the appendices are insightful as well. It might even be a good idea to read Appendix Four before reading the body of the work, as familiarity with the historical context is key for following the analogies in the book, many of which draw upon knowledge of historical figures who must have been as familiar to the ancient Chinese as such figures as Lincoln, Hitler, and Churchill are for us. Reading the text, I thought how wonderful it would be to see what analogies a modern day Mencius would use to argue his points.
The text itself is full of many gems. As others have noted, one of Mencius' critical additions to Confucianism is the idea that human nature is good, as argued using a number of powerful analogies such as the "child falling into a well" and the "downward flow of water" scenarios. Of course one can take issue with these analogies and come up with counterarguments, but remember that it is essentially impossible to "prove" which way human nature leans. Likewise, while the general idea of the Mandate of Heaven is present in the Analects, I believe it is Mencius who fully articulates it in a series of wonderful examples. Therefore Mencius does not just refine or restate Confucianism, he expands it as well.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Mencius greatly and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Analects. However, I did not find quite the same level of enjoyment reading Mencius as I did Confucius. For me, the analogies grew a little dense at times, and there was not the simple yet elegant profundity that keeps pulling me back to read the Analects time and time again. For me, Mencius is a great supplemental reader to Confucianism ... but it does not come close to surpassing its primary text: the Analects. Then again, that was not Mencius' intent. He would likely be the first to admit that he was standing on the shoulders of the giant in his philosophical tradition: Confucius.
A very good read, nonetheless. I am always amazed to think of the mental masterminds who sprung up in China and Europe at the same general time in history. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, etc. Even if some of the works were written by disciples, the brilliance of the ideas shines through. Mencius is a worthy addition to this tradition of scholarly excellence. However, if you are to read one book and one book only on Confucianism, make it the Analects! But if Confucius is the paragon, Mencius should feel no shame in being #2.
Summary of Mencius (Penguin Classics)
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.Literary Books
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