Mencius (Penguin Classics) - Softcover

Mencius; D.C. Lau

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140442286 ISBN 13: 9780140442281

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 1970

Synopsis

The Confucian philosopher, Mencius (c.371-288 BC) explicated his master's moral principles and reinterpreted them for the harsh conditions of the 4th century BC, when they were threatened by the aggressive and amoral doctrines of legalism. With its stress on the "thinking heart" (or individual conscience), "Mencius" is a defence of morality in private and public life.

About this title

Book Description:

Mencius, who lived in the 4th century B.C., is second only to Confucius in importance in the Confucian tradition. The Mencius consists of sayings of Mencius and conversations he had with his contemporaries. When read side by side with the Analects, the Mencius throws a great deal of light on the teachings of Confucius.

Mencius developed many of the ideas of Confucius and at the same time discussed problems not touched upon by Confucius. He drew out the implications of Confucius' moral principles and reinterpreted them for the conditions of his time. As the fullest of the four great Confucian texts, the Mencius has been the required reading amongst Chinese scholars for two thousand years, and it still throws considerable light on the character of the Chinese people.

About the Author:

David Hinton's translations of ancient Chinese poetry and philosophy have earned wide acclaim for creating compelling English texts that convey the ambiguity and texture of the originals. His books include translations of the ancient poet Tu Fu, T'ao Ch'ien, Meng Chiao, and Li Po, as well as the contemporary poet Bei Dao. He has held fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1997 his work was awarded the Harold Morton Landon Translation Award from the Academy of American Poets.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 1970
• ISBN 10: 0140442286
• ISBN 13: 9780140442281
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288