Filsafat China.pdf

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IDEALISTIC CONFUCIANISM: MENCIUS
THE CAREER OF MENCIUS (371-289 B.C.?) was amazingly similar
to that of Confucius, whom he proclaimed the greatest sage. 1 Like Confucius,
he was born in what is modern Shantung province. Like Confucius,
he was a professional teacher, having studied under the pupils of
the grandson of Confucius. Like Confucius, he idolized the legendary
sage-emperors. 2 Like Confucius, he lived in a period of political struggle,
moral chaos, and intellectual conflicts. Like Confucius, he had a sense of
mission, if only to suppress "perversive doctrines." 3 To this end he debated
with scholars and attacked his opponents, especially the followers
of Mo Tzu (fl. 479-438 B.C.) and Yang Chu (440-360 B.C.?). 4 Like
Confucius, he traveled for forty years from about 354 B.C. or earlier, to
offer advice to rulers for reform. 5 Like Confucius, he once served as an
official, in Ch'i from 319 to 312 B.C. Like Confucius, he was a filial son,
for while serving in Ch'i, he took three years out to mourn the death of
his mother. And like Confucius, he was eventually disappointed, and
retired.
One contrast between the two, however, is that we know practically
nothing about Mencius' family or his private life. He was a pupil of Confucius'
grandson Tzu-ssu's pupil. His dates are uncertain. The most
scholars can say is that he lived between 370 and 290 B.C., thus making
him contemporaneous with Hsün Tzu, Chuang Tzu, and Plato, with
whom he is often compared.
The greatest difference between Mencius and Confucius, however, is
in their doctrines. Basically, Mencius' teachings were derived from Confucius.
But in the central doctrine of the Confucian school, that of
human nature, Mencius took a big step forward, and his new theory
colored his other doctrines. While Confucius no more than implied that
human nature is good, Mencius declared definitely that it is originally
1 Mencius, 2A:2; 3B:9; 7B:38.
2 Ibid., 3A:1; 3B:9; 4A:28; 5A:l-3; 7A:16, 30, 35; 7B:33.
3 See below, comment on 3B:9.
4 For debates, see Mencius, 3B:9; 4A:17; 6A:l-6. For criticisms of Yang and
Mo, see Mencius, 3A:5; 3B:9; 7A:26; 7B:26. For attack on other schools, see
Mencius, 3A:4; 3B:10; 6B:1.
5 So far as scholars can make out, his travel was something like this: He
visited the state of Ch'i in or about 357 B.C. He was in Sung around 325 B.C.
Some two years later he went to Hsüeh and returned to his native Tsou the next
year. At the request of the Duke of T'eng, he went there, staying for three years,
probably from 322 to 320 B.C. From T'eng he went to Liang. About 319 B.C. he
visited Ch'i once more and served in an official position. In 312 B.C. or soon after,
he resigned and left.
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