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Mengzi (Mencius) (c.372---289 B.C.), who had once received education from a disciple of Confucius' grandson, was a thinker, politician, and educationist in the Warring states Period (475---221B.C.). Ideologically, he carried forward Confucianism. He once travelled to the states of Qi, Wei, Teng and so on, where his political views were not accepted,, In his late years, together with his disciples such as Gongsun Chou and Wan Zhang, he composed Mengzi (Mencius), which contained a great number of vivid metaphors and convincing records. Mengzi is the representative figure of Confucianism after Confucius. 1155815.com
Mengzi developed Confucius' main idea ren into renzheng (benevolent ruling). He advocated less penalty and fewer levies so that the subjects would not suffer from hunger and cold. He also said that the subjects should be most valued, the country lesser valued and the rulers least valued. As to the relationship between the rulers and their subjects, Mengzi said, "If the ruler treats his subjects like brothers, they will take him as an intimate friend in return; if he treats them like horses and cattle, they will regard him as a stranger in return; and if he treats them like wild grass, they will look upon him as foe in return." If a ruler is cruel, he could be seen as an "autocrat" and should be overthrown by his subjects. Mengzi said that rulers should learn from the previous rulers and those who took a fancy to killing could not be rulers. 民俗节庆门户网站
As for individual cultivation, Mengzi said that nobody was born evil by nature, and the sense of sympathy, leniency and shame were innate characters of man. This was the bud of the morality of ren (benevolence), y/ (justice), li (rites) and zhi (wisdom). In practising individual cultivation, Mengzi said that one should develop his sense of justice. He believed that if one was upright and not affected by evilness, his sense of justice would expand so greatly that it will find itself everywhere and in everything He also stated that a true gentleman would not be corrupted either by wealth or by honours, nor would he swerve from his principles when in poverty or in humble positions, or bend under threats or force
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Apart from the above ideas, Mengzi also put forth the following important ideas: Opportunity is less important than favorable geographical position which is less important than subjective initiatives; a just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little support.
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Mengzi' s ideas have imposed such a great influence on later generations that Confucianism is also referred to as the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius.
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