Mencius

孟子

"孟子 by Mencius" is a philosophical text believed to have been written during the late 4th century BC. This collection of conversations and anecdotes follows Mencius as he travels across the Warring States period, engaging rulers and students in debates about moral and political philosophy. The work explores his famous theory of natural goodness—that all humans possess innate virtues like sprouts that can be cultivated. Through dialogues with contemporaries, Mencius develops Confucian ideas about benevolent governance and human nature's intrinsic compassion, creating one of China's most influential classical texts.