Mencius

1
Mencius

• Follower and disciple of Confucius
• Lived from 372-289 BCE
• Emphasized the moral and righteous qualities of a
  ruler
• Rulers insure peace and prosperity, lead by
  example through education and virtue, provide for
  the people

2
China Under Confucius

• Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

3
Origins of the Mandate

• Originated thousands of years before the Ming
• Early belief in a divine ruler Shangdi (watch
  over humanity)
• God of the ruling family
• Give sacrifices to Shangdi
• Failure to observe rituals led to displeasure
  from heaven (famine, earthquakes, or other
  natural disasters

4
Origins of the Mandate

• During the Shang dynasty (2000-1027 BCE) the
  concept of tian was created
• idea of heaven
• governed all creation
• guided moral order

5
Origins of the Mandate

• Zhou dynasty (1120-221 BCE) concept of tianming
  (Mandate of Heaven)
• explains conquest and submission of falling
  dynasties
• Divinely inspired process
• Anyone could assume the right to rule
• Tian, or Heaven, chose who would rule the people

6
Origins of the Mandate

• A dynasty maintained rule as long as they
• ruled with benevolence and justice
• duties of the ruler were carried out correctly
• Failure meant the Tian could choose a new ruling
  family
• could not be selfish, cruel, or oppressive

7
Dynastic Cycle

• Represents a dynastys rise and fall
• Cycle starts with winning the Mandate (approval)
  of heaven
• Period of prosperity, marked by motivated and
  capable emperors
• Apex (peak) marked by political, economic, and
  cultural flowering.

8
Dynastic Cycle

• Then the decline began, usually slow (sometimes
  quite rapid) marked by administrative
  corruption, repressive laws, and incapable and
  lazy emperors.
• Dynasty would face rebellion and disunity, the
  loss of peoples support, and loss of Mandate