The Book of Master Mo

The philosophies of an ancient Chinese master

Very little is known about Master Mo, or the school he founded. However, the book containing his philosophical ideas has survived centuries of neglect and is today recognised as a fundamental work of ancient Chinese philosophy. The book contains sections explaining the ten key doctrines of Mohism; lively dialogues between Master Mo and his followers; a discussion of ancient warfare; and an extraordinary series of chapters that include the first examples of logic, dialectics and epistemology in Chinese philosophy. The ideas discussed in The Book of Master Mo—ethics, anti-imperialism, and a political hierarchy based on merit—remain as relevant as ever, and the work is vital to understanding ancient Chinese philosophy.

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Mo Zi (470-390 BC) was one of the most influential of classical Chinese philosophers.

Ian Johnston is an award-winning translator and a former professor of neurosurgery who has published translations of Galen’s medical writings, early Chinese poetry, and philosophical works.