The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

The Life And Works Of Mencius: With Essays And Notes by James Legge is a 19th-century English edition of the classic Confucian philosopher Mencius. The volume presents Prolegomena and introductory chapters on Mencius’s works, their recognition, and the textual tradition, including debates over authorship and the status of seven canonical Books versus four doubtful Lost Books. It provides a biographical framing of Mencius (Mang-tsze), born circa 371 BCE and active in the Warring States period, detailing his wanderings among states, his efforts to counsel rulers toward benevolence and prudent governance, and his enduring legacy through the seven (or more) Books. Core doctrines are summarized: Heaven’s moral mandate underpins legitimate rule; human nature is innately good and requires cultivation; the mind must be trained, and education and division of labor sustain good governance. The editor situates Mencius within a lineage from Yaou and Shun to Confucius, and discusses the ideal minister, the ethics of gift-giving, and practical statecraft. The work combines historical exempla, theoretical argument, and extensive notes for scholars and students of Chinese philosophy.