Mencius on Humane Governance and the Political Economy

7/23/2019 Mencius on Humane Governance and the Political Economy

1/10

Eno}hf| fn|gbhjfn} }o }hf }febhgn` oa Bonavbgvr }he} Jfnbgvr hem jemf gr

hgr fxtorg}gon on }hf frrfn}geir oa hvjenf òqf|nenbf enm }hf toig}gbei

fbonojw. Ete|} a|oj fivbgme}gn` }hf hvjenf t|gnbgtifr oa òqf|njfn}

ei|femw iegm mopn lw Bonavbgvr) hf eiro qfn}v|fm }o rv``fr} }he} }hf oniwpew }o `ve|en}ff e mfbfn} igqfighoom ao| }hf tfotif gr }o emot} }hf pfii*

agfim e`|gbvi}v|ei*}ex rwr}fj er t|eb}gbfm mv|gn` }hf [hov Mwner}w. Mogn`

ro povim fnbov|e`f t|omvb}gqg}w enm robgei he|jonw) mfqfiotjfn} oa e|}r

enm b|ea}r) a|ff aiop oa òomr enm tfotif) ifemgn` fqfn}veiiw }o e

t|ortf|ovr enm r}|on` r}e}f. Av|}hf|jo|f) hf eiro hem rojf}hgn` }o rew

elov} ao|fg`n toigbw.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Jfnbgvr on

Hvjenf @oqf|nenbf enm }hf Toig}gbei Fbonojw

En fxbf|t} a|oj ]hf Rgx Te}|ge|bhr oa Bhgnfrf Hvjengrj

Ev}ho|; Tf}f| J.C. Bhen

Eii |g`h}r |frf|qfm

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

If} vr lf gn pg}h phe} Jfnbgvr regm }o cgn` Rhven oa }hfR}e}f oa Bhg ** onf oa }hf r}e}fr mv|gn` }hf Pe||gn` R}e}f Tf|gom;

]hf pew wov |f`vie}f }hf igqfighoom oa }hf tfotif her no} eiiopfmfnov`h ao| }hfj }o }ecf be|f oa }hfg| te|fn}r) pgaf enm bhgim|fn.]hfw rvaaf| fqfn gn òom wfe|r) enm benno} frbetf mfe}h mv|gn`

lem onfr. Eii }hfw ben mo gr }|w }o eqogm mfe}h enm afe| ao| }hfg|igqfr. ]hf|f gr no }gjf ao| }hfj }o bvi}gqe}f t|ot|gf}w enm

|g`h}fovrnfrr.( Glgm.'

G} gr gjto|}en} }o cfft gn jgnm }he} pg}hov} e r}femw igqfighoom)tfotif povim no} affi rfbv|f gn }hfg| jgnm. Ga }hfw e|f no} rfbv|f

gn }hfg| jgnm) }hf|f gr no}hgn` }hfw povim no} mo lw pew oamft|eqfm enm fqgi eb}r. ]o aoiiop vt enm tvngrh }hfj ea}f| }hfw

bojjg}}fm }hfg| b|gjfr gr e cgnm oa fn}|etjfn}. No hvjenf |vif|

povim fn}|et tfotif gn }hgr pew. (


2/10

Glgm. Bhet}f| 5']hgr gr }hf |feron phw enfnig`h}fnfm |vif| hem }o |f`vie}f }hf igqfighoom oa hgr tfotif ro

}he} }hfw pgii heqf fnov`h }o rvtto|} }hfg| te|fn}r er pfii er}hfg| pgaf enm bhgim|fn. Ea}f| hf fnrv|fr }he} }hfw ben fe} }o }hf

avii gn òom wfe|r enm no} heqgn` }o r}e|qf gn lem onfr) hf povim `vgmf }hf tfotif }ope|m phe} gr òom) ro }he} }hfw pgii agnm

gnr}|vb}gonr ferw }o aoiiop.(

Glgm.'

Hfnbf) ga wov| Jekfr}w |feiiw pen}r }o l|gn` }hgr elov}) wov jvr}|fqf|} lebc }o lergbr. Ga wov eiiop jvilf||w }|ffr }o lf tien}fm gntio}r oa agqf jov (elov} onf eb|f') tfotif oqf| aga}w povim lf elif

}o pfe| rgic. Ga eii pf|f eiiopfm }o heqf igqfr}obc enm l|ffm }hfje} }hf t|otf| }gjf) tfotif oqf| rfqfn}w povim lf elif }o fe} jfe}.Ga }hf agfimr e|f bvi}gqe}fm gn }hf t|otf| rferonr) e aejgiw oa fg`h}

}he} igqfr oaa onf hvnm|fm jov pgii no} ò hvn`|w.(

Glgm.'

Av|}hf| ) tew be|favi e}}fn}gon }o fmvbe}gon. Ga wov }febh }hfjelov} }hf |g`h}fovrnfrr oa agigei tgf}w enm a|e}f|ng}w) aoicr pg}h`|ew heg| pgii no ion`f| heqf }o be||w hfeqw ioemr on }hf r}|ff}r.Phfn }hf fimf|iw heqf rgic }o pfe| enm jfe} }o fe}) enm tferen}r

e|f nfg}hf| hvn`|w no| boim) lf |fr} errv|fm }he} hf pho gr cgn`pgii eipewr lf cgn`.(Glgm.'

Gn rho|}) }ecf be|f oa }hf tfotif) enm no onf pgii lf elif }o ottorfwov. Rew enm mo phe} gr on wov| jgnm enm }ecf }hf gn}f|fr} oao}hf|r gn}o bonrgmf|e}gon. ]he} gr eiro }o rew) fx}fnm bojterrgonao| }hf lfnfag} oa eii pg}hgn }hf aov| rfer. Ga bojterrgon gr no}fx}fnmfm) wov povim heqf no}hgn` }o t|o}fb} wov| opn pgaf enm

bhgim|fn. ]hf |feron phw }hf enbgfn}r (re`f*cgn`r' pf|f elif }o

rv|terr }hfg| bojtf}g}o|r per nonf o}hf| }hen }hgr; }hfw


3/10

t|ojo}fm òomnfrr pg}h phe} }hfw mgm) enm no}hgn` jo|f. (

Glgm. Bhet}f| 5'

Te|} oa phe} }he} fn}egir gr }o |fb|vg} }hf qg|}vovr enm fjtiow }hfbetelif. Phfn }hf qg|}vovr enm betelif e|f tv} gn}o oaagbgeitorg}gonr) }hf|f pgii lf tifn}w oa }gjf enm otto|}vng}w }o gjt|oqfemjgngr}|e}gqf t|obfmv|fr enm tfnei bomfr) }hvr tv}}gn` fqfn }hf

ie|`f| r}e}fr gn epf.(

Glgm. Bhet}f| 5'

Eno}hf| }hgn` }o no}f gr }he} ga e |vif| |fè|mr hgr jgngr}f|r er hgr

henmr enm aff}) hgr jgngr}f|r pgii |fè|m hgj er }hfg| lomw enmjgnm. Ga e |vif| |fè|mr hgr jgngr}f|r er mo`r enm ho|rfr) hgrjgngr}f|r pgii |fè|m hgj er enw o}hf| jen. Ga e |vif| |fè|mr hgr

jgngr}f|r er mg|} enm `|err) hgr jgngr}f|r pgii |fè|m hgj er e|v}hifrr lenmg}.(

Glgm. Bhet}f| 8'

Enm }hf|f gr onf jo|f }hgn`. Igr}fn }o tvligb otgngon. Phfn eiiwov| jgngr}f|r rew }he} e jen gr po|}hw) g} gr no} rvaagbgfn}. Phfneii wov| oaagbf|r rew ro) g} gr r}gii no} rvaagbgfn}. Lv} phfn eii wov|tfotif rew ro) iooc gn}o }hf berf. Enm ga wov agnm hgj }o lf

po|}hw) fjtiow hgj. Rgjgie|iw) phfn eii wov| jgngr}f|r rew }he} ejen gr no òom) mo no} kvr} igr}fn }o }hfj. Phfn eii wov| oaagbf|reiro rew ro) mo no} kvr} igr}fn }o }hfj. Lv} phfn eii wov| tfotif

rew ro) iooc gn}o }hf berf3 enm ga wov agnm hgj }o lf no òom)mgrjgrr hgj. Igcfpgrf) phfn eii wov| jgngr}f|r rew }he} e jen

rhovim lf fxfbv}fm) mo no} kvr} igr}fn }o }hfj. Phfn eii wov|`|fe} oaagbf|r eiro rew ro) mo no} kvr} igr}fn }o }hfj. Lv} phfn eii

}hf tfotif rew ro) iooc gn}o }hf berf. Enm ga wov agnm }he} }hftf|ron rhovim gnmffm lf fxfbv}fm) fxfbv}f hgj. Oniw gn }hgr pewben e |vif| lfbojf }hf ae}hf| enm jo}hf| oa }hf tfotif.(


4/10

Glgm. Bhet}f|


5/10

Glgm. Bhet}f| 5'

(l' No òqf|njfn} ben eaao|m }o nfìfb} fmvbe}gon. Er hf tv}g}; Pg}hov} fmvbe}gon) fqfn phfn tfotif e|f pfii afm) pe|jiwbio}hfm) enm bojao|}eliw iom`fm3 }hfw e|f r}gii no} qf|w mgaaf|fn}a|oj engjeir.( Glgm.' ]hf re`f(oa oim' po||gfm elov} }hgr) enm ettogn}fm Bhgfh }o lf jgngr}f| oafmvbe}gon ro er }o }febh tfotif elov} hvjen |fie}gonr; }he}ae}hf| enm ron rhovim lf eaafb}gone}f3 }he} |vif| enm jgngr}f|

rhovim lf |g`h}fovrnfrr3 }he} hvrlenm enm pgaf rhovim heqf

rfte|e}f avnb}gonr3 }he} oim enm wovn` rhovim heqf }hfg| t|otf||oifr) enm }he} }hf|f rhovim lf aeg}havinfrr lf}pffn a|gfnmr.(

Glgm.']hgr gr phw gnr}g}v}gonr enm rbhooir pf|ffr}eligrhfm }o }febh enm fnig`h}fn }hf tfotif elov} hvjen|fie}gonr.(

Glgm.'(b' ]o òqf|n hvjenfiw gr }o òqf|n gn }hf gn}f|fr} oa }hftfotif. ]hgr gr eiro }hf oniw pew }ope|m jecgn` }hf r}e}f r}|on`.

Er hf av|}hf| regm }o cgn` Hvfg oa }hf R}e}f oa Ifvn`;Rhovim wov|jekfr}w pgrh }o òqf|n }hf tfotif pg}h hvjenfnfrr) rgjtigaw

wov| tfnei bomf) }ex ig`h}iw) enm eiiop }hf tfotif }o tiop }hfg|agfimr mfft enm hof }hfj pfii. Gn }hgr pew) }hf r}|on` enm hfei}hwpovim lf elif }o agnm }gjf }o bvi}gqe}f agigei tgf}w) rglign`

eaafb}gon) iowei}w) enm rgnbf|g}w. Ga }hfw mo }hgr) }hfw pgii lf elif}o rf|qf }hfg| ae}hf|r enm fimf| l|o}hf|r phfn }hfw bojf hojf)

er pfii er rf|qgn` }hfg| rvtf|go|r phfn }hfw ò ov}.]he} povimfnelif wov| r}e}f }o hoim g}r opn eègnr} }hf he|m e|jo| enm

rhe|t pfetonr oa lo}h Bhgn enm Bho| (}hf }po }ot bon}fnmgn`r}e}fr oa }hf Pe||gn` R}e}f Tf|gom'.(

Glgm.'

(m' Tvligb emjgngr}|e}gon gr en v|`fn} enm henm*on lvrgnfrr.

Er hf tv} g}; ]hf lvrgnfrr oa (e}}fnmgn` }o' }hf tfotif gr no} }o lf


6/10

mfiewfm.( Glgm. Bhet}f|6'\frtfb} }hf po|}hw enmfjtiow }hf betelif. Lw tv}}gn` }eifn}fm tfotif gn cfw torg}gonr)eii gn}fiifb}veir gn }hf |feij pgii lf tiferfm) enm pgii pen} }o

lfbojf jfjlf|r oa wov| bov|}.(Glgm. Bhet}f| 2' Hopfqf|) mo no} lfbojf ig`h}gn }hf fe|r }o }hf otgngon oa bov|}gf|r) lv} igr}fn }o tvligb otgngon.

Nop) ao| phe} Jfnbgvr hem eiro bojf }o rff) e qg|}vovr cgn`}he} |frtfb}r hgr tfotif rhovim }ecf a|oj }hf tfotif ebbo|mgn` }o|f`vie}gonr.( GlgmBhet}f| 6' Lv}}hf lg``fr} t|olifj pg}h }hf `oqf|njfn}r oa hgr mew per }he} }hfw

eii }ooc }oo jvbh a|oj }hf tfotif. ]hf|f gr }ex on hfjt enm rgic3}hf|f gr }ex on `|egn3 enm }hf|f gr }ex on jentopf|. E |vif|rhovim oniw vrf onf oa }hfrf enm if} `o oa }hf o}hf| }po. Fqfn ga

oniw }po oa }hfrf }exfr pf|f gjtorfm) }hf|f povim r}gii lfr}e|qe}gon ejon` }hf tfotif. ]o gjtorf eii }h|ff pgii rv|fiw }fe|aejgigfr ete|}.(3Glgm. Bhet}f| 5='Er onf oa hgrerrobge}fr eiro togn}fm ov}) }hf ejovn} oa }ex ifqgfm per vrveiiw

beibvie}fm lw }ecgn` }hf eqf|e`f oa rfqf|ei wfe|r. ]hgr gr no} e t|olifj mv|gn` t|ortf|ovr wfe|r phfn `|egnr igf elov} gnelvnmenbf) enm rvbh e }ex gr no} ott|frrgqf lfbevrf }hftf|bfn}e`f }ecfn gr rjeii. Lv} gn lem wfe|r) phfn t|obffmr e|f

no} fnov`h fqfn }o af|}gig{f }hf agfimr) }hf ejovn} }exfm povimifeqf fqf|wonf pg}hov} e rv|tivr.(

Glgm.'

G} per ao| }hgr qf|w |feron }he} Jfnbgvr hem }o rv``fr} }o }hfMvcf oa }hf R}e}f oa ]fn` }he} }hf e`|gbvi}v|ei*}ex rwr}fj cnopnmv|gn` }hf [hov Mwner}w er }hf pfii*agfim rwr}fj rhovim lf|fgn}|omvbfm. Er }o hop rvbh en e`|gbvi}v|ei rwr}fj gr }o lf rf} vt)}hgr gr phe} Jfnbgvr regm;

Mgqgmf e ruve|f tgfbf oa ienm oa ngnf hvnm|fm jov (elov} onfhvnm|fm enm ao|}w eb|fr' gn}o ngnf fuvei ruve|fr) enm mfrg`ne}f

}hf bfn}|ei ruve|f er tvligb agfim }o lf bvi}gqe}fm kogn}iw lw fg`h}


7/10

aejgigfr. Febh oa }hfrf aejgigfr pgii `f} }o opn onf oa }hf o}hf|

fg`h} ruve|fr oa onf hvnm|fm jov (elov} aga}ffn eb|fr'. ]hfaejgigfr gnqoiqfm povim lf |fuvg|fm }o po|c on }hf tvligb agfim

ag|r} lfao|f }hfw ben e}}fnm }o }hfg| opn. ]hgr gr }hf lergb gmfe oa}hf rwr}fj. (Glgm.'

Av|}hf|) ao| e hvjenf `oqf|njfn} }o gjtifjfn} }hgr rwr}fjt|otf|iw) g} jvr} lf`gn lw mfagngn` }hf lovnme|w oa ienm. Ga }hflovnme|gfr e|f no} bo||fb}iw mfagnfm enm }hf mgqgrgonr oa ienm gn

}hgr pfii*agfim rwr}fj e|f no} fuvei) }hf t|omvbf ol}egnfm }hf|f

a|oj (lw febh oa }hf ae|jgn` aejgigfr' povim lfbojfgnfuvg}elif.(

Glgm.' G} gr lw mfagngn` }hf lovnme|gfr oa ienm bo||fb}iw }he}fn}g}ifjfn}r ben lf |fnmf|fm ev}oje}gb.(Glgm.'

Er Jfnbgvr per eiro fe`f| }o togn} ov}) onf emqen}e`f oagjtifjfn}gn` }hgr ngnf*enm*onf }ex rwr}fj gn }hf bovn}|wrgmfgr}he} g} gr |ov`hiw fuvgqeifn} }o ifqwgn` onf*}fn}h oa t|obffmr gn

}hf bfn}|ei mgr}|gb}r.(Glgm.'Eno}hf|gr }he} ao| no} heqgn` }o tew emmg}gonei }ex (o}hf| }hen }hfg|bon}|glv}gon }o }hf tvligb agfim') eii }hf ae|jf|r gn }hf po|im pgii

lf tiferfm) enm povim pen} }o }gii wov| ienm.( Glgm. Bhet}f| 2'Enm }he} gr lfao|frewgn` }he} tfotif gn }hf bovn}|wrgmf pgii lfbojf e}}ebhfm }o}hfg| pfii*agfimr er jvbh er }hfw mo }o }hfg| qgiie`f. ]he} lfgn`

}hf berf) tfotif lfion`gn` }o }hf rejf ngnf ruve|fr e|f lovnm }o

lfbojf a|gfnmiw }o febh o}hf| gn }hfg| bojgn` gn enm `ogn` ov}.]hfw pgii eiro hfit onf eno}hf| }o cfft pe}bh) enm rvr}egn febho}hf| gn rgbcnfrr. Gn }hgr pew) hvjen |fie}gonr povim lfbojfeaafb}gone}f enm he|jongovr.( Glgm. Bhet}f| 6'

Eno}hf| lg` tivr) regm Jfnbgvr) gr }he} phfn }hgn`r e|f vt enm|vnngn`) }horf pho e|f no} nffmfm gn }hf agfimr bovim lfbojf

mgaaf|fn} cgnmr oa e|}grenr. ( Glgm.

'


8/10

Lfbevrf oa }hfrf qe|govr e|}grenr) }hf nffmr oa fqf|wonf pgii eiro

lf jf}. G} rhovim lf olrf|qfm }he} ga fqf|wonf jvr} jecffqf|w}hgn` ao| hgr opn vrf) g} povim bevrf }hf phoif po|im }o |vn

elov} on |oemr.( Glgm.']hgr gr phw g} gr regm }he} phgif rojf jvr}

ielo| pg}h }hfg| jgnmr) o}hf|r jvr} ielo| pg}h }hfg| lomgfr.Phf|fer }horf pho ielo| pg}h }hfg| jgnmr pgii òqf|n o}hf|r)

}horf pho e|f òqf|nfm lw o}hf|r jvr} rvtto|} }horf phoòqf|n) g.f.) }horf pho òqf|n jvr} lf rvtto|}fm lw }horf phoj}hfw òqf|n. ]hgr gr e t|gnbgtif pfii ebbft}fm gn }hf po|im.(

Glgm.'

Av|}hf|jo|f) er hf eiro }oim }hf Mvcf) g} rhovim eiro lfolrf|qfm }he} phfn no |fn} gr bhe|`fm no| ifqgfr gjtorfm on}horf pho po|c gn }hf je|cf} tiebfr) eii jf|bhen}r gn }hf po|impen} }o r}obc enm }|emf gn wov| je|cf}r.E} }hf lo|mf|r) ga oniwgnrtfb}gonr e|f jemf pg}hov} }e|gaar) eii }hf }|eqfif|r gn }hf po|impgii eiro pen} }o }|eqfi on wov| |oemr. Enm ga no ifqw gr

gjtorfm on eii r}|en`f|r gn wov| je|cf} tiebfr) fqf|wonf gn }hfpo|im pgii lf ìem }o lfbojf wov| rvlkfb}.(

. Glgm.

Bhet}f| 2'Bojjfn}; Er |femf|r ben rff) phe} gr lfao|f ov| fwfr gr no}hgn` ifrf }hen

en fbonojgb livft|gn} }he} afp povim mgre`|ff fqfn }omew. ]hf|f gr

fjthergr on }hf gjto|}enbf oa heqgn` t|otf|}w |g`h}r bife|iw mfagnfm.

]hf|f gr |fbojjfnme}gon ao| e iop }ex |f`gjf. ]hf|f gr rv``fr}gon ao| e

a|ff }|emf rwr}fj. Bojgn` a|oj er ion` eò er jo|f }hen }po }hovrenm

wfe|r eò) g} gr gnmffm gjt|frrgqf. G} gr hf|f }he} G povim igcf }o togn} ov}

}he} hem Jfnbgvr lffn igr}fnfm }o gn }hf jgmmif mfbemfr oa }hf


9/10

fx}fnrgqf e`|gbvi}v|ei |fao|jr) iopf|gn` gjto|} }ex }o jff} P]O }e|`f}r)

|ftfeign` }ex on e`|gbvi}v|ei ienm) oaaf|gn` fmvbe}gonei rvlrgmgfr ao| }hf

too| gn |v|ei e|fer) enm }e|`f}gn` ao| e ngnf*wfe| a|ff rbhooign` rwr}fj ao|

eii gr eb}veiiw |e}hf| biorf }o phe} Jfnbgvr hem gn jgnm. Enm oa bov|rf) }hfe}}fjt} }o igr}fn jo|f e}}fn}gqfiw }o }hf tfotif enm pffm ov} bo||vt}gon

pg}hgn òqf|njfn} g}rfia gr phe} Jfnbgvr povim eiro igcf }o rff.

Nop) nor}ei`ge ergmf) if}r |f}v|n }o }hf ag|r} jff}gn` lf}pffnJfnbgvr enm cgn` Rhven oa }hf R}e}f oa Bhg pg}h phgbh }hgrRfb}gon lfèn. ]hf ier} }otgb }he} Jfnbgvr fxtovnmfm vton per onje}}f|r bonbf|ngn` ao|fg`n toigbw. ]hgr gr phe} hf regm.

]hf po|im jew afe| wov| topf|) lv} ga wov cfft }|wgn` }o fxtenmwov| lovnme|w enm mo no} t|eb}gbf hvjenf òqf|njfn}) g} povim

jo}gqe}f eii }hf e|jgfr gn }hf po|im }o |grf vt eègnr} wov. (Glgm. Bhet}f|


10/10

G} `ofr pg}hov} rewgn` }he} }hf eloqf ao|fg`n toigbw r}e}fjfn}gr rojf}hgn` }he} jeko| topf|r oa }hf po|im }omew rhovim eiro ifenao|pe|m enm }ecf no}f.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tf}f| J.C. Bhen gr }hf ev}ho| oa]hf Jwr}f|w oa Jgnm(tvligrhfm

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Mencius on Humane Governance and the Political Economy