Translation and Annotation of the Mengzi

This book presents the first English edition of YANG Bojun’s authoritative annotated commentary on the Mengzi, a Confucian canon by Mencius. It masterfully integrates classical Chinese exegetical traditions with contemporary philological precision.

The work's distinctive contribution is its faithful translation of the primary Mengzi text and its rich commentary tradition into accessible and accurate English, which addresses a significant gap in classical Chinese philosophical scholarship. The meticulous annotations incorporate textual history, philological studies, and historical geography to illuminate linguistic nuances, rhetorical forms, and the socio-political context that are essential to a comprehensive understanding of the text. By treating annotations as integral to philosophical interpretation, the book challenges traditional Western reading methods and offers a rigorous yet accessible approach to Sinology. The translation preserves the scholarly depth of the original while ensuring clarity for contemporary readers.

As a cornerstone of Chinese classical studies, this book is essential reading for scholars and students of Sinology, Chinese thought, philosophy, intellectual history, and classical cultures around the world.

YANG Bojun (1909-1992) was a Chinese philologist and linguist specializing in ancient Chinese grammar and he is best known for his annotated commentaries of the ancient Chinese historical texts.