How To Be Human According To Mencius

Around 400BC in ancient China after the collapse of previous dynasty, powers fell into the hands of rulers of different states. They waged war against each other and exploited local peasants with increased taxation, immense force and harsh punishment.

The Warring State period is exceptional and significant in Chinese history largely because a lot of critical philosophers emerged during such political and social turmoil. One of them was Mencius who spent most of his life counseling to different rulers.

He is a follower and admirer of Confucius. His philosophy is mostly documented in the book Mencius, a collection of Mencius’s words, dialogues with rulers, conversations and debates with disciples. To understand the highest virtue of humanity according to Mencius, first of all, we need to know his efforts in advising rulers on how to govern and lead. I did my best to translate the ancient philosophical language which typically conveys deep profound meanings with short concise words.

域民不以封疆之界，固国不以山溪之险，威天下不以兵革之利。得道者多助，失道者寡助。

It’s not the borders of a country that keeps people; It’s not geographical barriers that safeguards a country; It’s not the dreadful weapons that develops the prestige of a country. A benevolent and righteous leader always gets help and support while a wicked and relentless one inevitably looses guidance and aid.

Mencius knows the importance of ruling through virtue and righteousness rather than cruel coercion and sheer force. Rulers are advised by Mencius that the world can’t be conquered by warfare and tyranny. If a ruler acts with kindness, generosity and integrity, he will be naturally followed by people without using any force.

以力服人者，非心服也，力不赡也。以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也。

You can make people obey through enforcement and weapons, but they won’t be convinced and satisfied at heart. Because coercion is not powerful enough. You can only influence and win over others through virtue and integrity.

When King Qixuan asked how to be a benevolent and righteous ruler, he was reminded that once he saved a cow being led to slaughter because of compassion he had towards its suffering. Mencius considered it as a manifestation of benevolence. When the king said it’s hard to govern with kindness and generosity, Mencius told him a story.

曰”吾力足以举百钧，而不足以举一羽；明足以察秋毫之末，而不见舆薪”。

Someone says, “I am so powerful that I can lift 3000 catties (around 4000 pounds), but I can’t lift a feather. I can see the tip of pinfeather on birds, but I can’t see a large truck of fuelwood.”

If the King has compassion towards an animal, then he shouldn’t ignore the suffering of innocent people under his merciless and inhumane rule. Being compassionate towards people is not something the King is not capable of doing but reluctant to do.

A genuinely benevolent ruler will have innate compassion towards the suffering of others affected by his policies and will adjust policies with people’s well being in mind. Righteousness helps a ruler to avoid dishonorable behaviors, make ethical and just decisions, and win the respect and trust of people.

Does Mencius believe in God

Mencius has strong and ardent faith in the existence of ultimate power in the universe. This power is referred to as “Tian” in Mencius, which means “Sky”, or “Heaven” literally.

Mencius believes that rulers are chosen to lead by Tian. There is a dialogue between Mencius and one of his disciples about who made Shun an emperor. As a background, you might need to know the legendary story between Yao and Shun. Yao was one of the earliest rulers in ancient Chinese tribes in 2333BC. According to the legend, instead of passing the throne to his son, Yao chose Shun as his successor because of his competence and accomplishment. Before becoming an emperor, Shun had assisted Yao for 28 years until Yao passed away.

万章曰：“尧以天下与舜，有诸？” 孟子曰：“否。天子不能以天下与人。” “然则舜有天下也，孰与之？” 曰：“天与之。” “天与之者，谆谆然命之乎？”曰：“否。天不言，以行与事示之而已矣。”

”Is it true that Yao passed his throne to Shun?” One of Mencius disciples, Wanzhang asks.

“No. An emperor can’t pass his throne to anyone.”Mencius answers.

”Then who made Shun an emperor?”

”It’s granted by Tian.” Mencius says.

“Does Tian grant it and repeatedly ask Shun to accepted it?” The disciple asks.

“No. Tian does not speak. Tian simply reveals though action and events.”

A ruler becomes a ruler is decided by Tian, according to Mencius. Such event is not a private matter between a ruler and the successor. The fact that Shun becomes a ruler is not because of approval of Yao, but approval of Tian.

舜相尧，二十有八载，非人之所能为也，天也。

Shun had assisted Yao for 28 years. It was not determined by the will of a person. It was determined by Tian.

Mencius firm belief in Tian is reflected in many stories and narratives in the book. Heart, as Mencius notes, is the most important organ granted by Tian. Because it’s connected with mind, conscience and soul that engages in thinking and reflecting. Pursuing sensual desires rather than ethical cultivation can lead people to wrongdoing and corruption.

耳目之官不思，而蔽于物，物交物，则引之而已矣。心之官则思，思则得之，不思则不得也。此天之所与我者。

The organs that can’t think such as ears and eyes are easily blinded by mundane things. Governed by these organs, one can be easily led astray by material temptation. It is the function of the mind to think. If it thinks and reflects, it will comprehend and find answers. But if the mind ceases to think, it will diminish and fail to function. Thinking is the spiritual wealth that Tian has bestowed on us.

If you ask Mencius what’s the most important thing in the world, his answer would be understanding and submitting to Tian. According to Mencius, the law of Tian is the solitary and ultimate order that everyone must obey. Understanding human nature, which we will discuss soon, can unlock the understanding Tian. The following two quotes, probably the most famous ones from Mencius, are the strongest proof of his devotion to Tian.

顺天者存，逆天者亡。

Those who follow Tian’s law will thrive and shine; those who violate the law will lose and perish.

知其性，则知天矣。存其心，养其性，所以事天也。

He who knows the nature and essence of humanity knows Tian. Respect and serve Tian by preserving your integrity and nourishing your nature.

These stories and discussions have fully demonstrated Mencius’s unshakable faith in the ultimate power of Tian. According to the definition, God means the ruler of the universe and the source of all moral authority. Different periods and cultures in history have different names for referring to God, such as the Light, Allah, Heaven, Almighty, Lord of Lords, Unattainable, Immortal… Tian, in my opinion, is another ancient way of naming God. It makes more sense taken into consideration that it was written more than 4000 years ago.

• God does not speak. He simply reveals though action and events.
• Thinking is the spiritual wealth that God has bestowed on us.
• Those who follow God’s law will thrive and shine; those who violate the law will lose and perish.
• He who knows the nature and essence of humanity knows God. Respect and serve God by preserving your integrity and nourishing your nature.

What’s the Nature of Humanity and How to be Human?

There is a place called Niushan located on the outskirt of the metropolis. The plants and trees there were once lush and abundant even though the trees were cut down routinely. There were always new sprouts and shoots.

牛羊又从而牧之，是以若彼濯濯也。人见其濯濯也，以为未尝有材焉，此岂山之性也哉？虽存乎人者，岂无仁义之心哉？

Then people started letting cows and sheep graze here every year until it became bare and empty entirely. Some people think this place has never had lush and vigorous trees. But is this the initial condition of Niushan? Everyone has the seeds of benevolence and righteousness in the original and authentic self.

Mencius continues comparing the way some people lose faith in morality with the way Niushan loses trees. “The pure and fresh air in the morning and occasionally grown virtue bring a person closer to the right path. But the dishonorable things he does during the day shuts down his inner voice and wipes out his conscience gradually.”

人见其禽兽也，而以为未尝有才焉者，是岂人之情也哉？故苟得其养，无物不长；苟失其养，无物不消。

When others see him with rude and barbarian behavior, disgraceful and pathetic words, they think he is deprived of being a good person from the beginning. But is it the nature of human beings? If morality is nurtured as it is needed, the beauty of human nature will be carried forward; If morality loses proper and sufficient nourishment, everything will cease to exist.

The tale of Niushan enlightened disciples and followers of Mencius. Virtue, as Mencius suggests, is not a disposition that only belongs to few noble and respectable people. It’s not out there beyond reach. It exists within. Everyone has innate ethical dispositions. Benevolence and righteousness are precious qualities within human nature. The survival and bloom of such disposition requires care, cultivation and nourishment.

The core of Mencius philosophy is that “human nature is good.” It doesn’t mean that “all humans are born good”. The goodness of human nature means everyone has the seeds of benevolence and righteousness. With the right soil, temperature, and irrigation, they grow into lush and vigorous trees with new shoots constantly. Virtue can only shine when it’s strong and steady enough.

存乎人者，莫良于眸子。眸子不能掩其恶。胸中正，则眸子瞭焉；胸中不正，则眸子纨焉。

The best way to observe and understand a person is to look at his eye. Because eyes can’t hide one’s wrongdoing. A person with noble and pure mind has bright eyes. In contrast, a person with weak and diseased mind has dull eyes.

Mencius notes that our physical appearance, especially eyes, is a manifestation and reflection of our inner world. Virtue shapes a person both mentally and physically. Mencius also stresses the importance to protect our innate goodness.

守孰为大？守身为大。

What’s the most important thing to guard? One’s goodness.

Mencius thinks that the mind represents the destiny God has assigned for everyone. To become fully human is to learn to receive its message by self-reflection. We become more sincere when we reflect and act on our nature. As a result, we start behaving with benevolence and righteousness for their own sake. Sincerity is the source of greatest joy.

不明乎善，不诚其身矣。是故诚者，天之道也；思诚者，人之道也。至诚而不动者，未之有也。不诚，未有能动者也。

You can’t be sincere if you don’t understand what kindness is. Sincerity is God’s way of running the universe. The benchmark of being a man is to reflect and pursue sincerity. If someone is treated with sincerity, it’s impossible that he is not deeply moved and touched. If you are not sincere, you can’t touch anyone’s heart.