After leaving Qi state, Mencius stayed in a place called Xiu.
His disciple Gongsun Chou asked him:
“Was it an ancient custom to hold office but refuse salary?”
Mencius replied:
“No, it was not.
After I met the king at Chong, I already had the intention of leaving.
Since I did not wish to change my mind, I refused the salary.
Then the war broke out and I had no opportunity to request permission to leave. But it was never my intention to stay long in Qi.”
孟子去齊，居休。
公孫丑問曰：「仕而不受祿，古之道乎？」
曰：「非也。於崇，吾得見王。退而有去志，不欲變，故不受也。繼而有師命，不可以請。久於齊，非我志也。」
Note
This brief passage from Mencius: Gongsun Chou II reveals core Confucian principles regarding the moral conditions of political service and the scholar’s autonomy.
Refusing salary as moral clarity
Mencius clarifies that declining salary was not an ancient rule but a deliberate ethical stance. After meeting the king at Chong and concluding the Dao would not be implemented in Qi, accepting pay would imply tacit endorsement – compromising integrity. Just as an old Chinese saying goes:
“The gentleman desires wealth, but acquires it through righteous means.”
Consistency of will
“Not wishing to change” reflects the Confucian ideal of unwavering resolve once a moral decision is made. To accept benefits after deciding to leave would appear opportunistic and undermine trustworthiness.
Service is instrumental to the Dao
Unlike strategists who sought power for its own sake, Mencius viewed office solely as a means to implement humane governance. If the path was blocked, departure was not failure but fidelity.
Historical Context: Disillusionment in Qi
Despite high status in Qi, Mencius failed to influence King Xuan, who favored military expansion over moral reform. His refusal of salary or any emoluments was thus a final act of protest – a silent declaration that principles cannot be rented.
In essence, this episode embodies the Confucian maxim:
“Serve the ruler by means of the Dao; if that is impossible, stop.” (Analects 11.23)
Mencius left Qi twice
The First Departure (during the reign of King Wei of Qi)
Mencius advocated that “benevolent governance is invincible,” but King Wei of Qi prioritized Legalist strategies for strengthening the military (such as employing Sun Bin) and showed little interest in Confucian thought. Feeling disheartened and unrecognized, Mencius even refused a generous gift of one hundred gold pieces from the king and eventually departed.
The Second Departure (during the reign of King Xuan of Qi)
Although treated with respect, Mencius found that King Xuan regarded Confucian teachings as “empty talk” while actively pursuing expansionist policies. Key conflicts included:
- The Yan State Incident: After Qi troops captured Yan, they committed killings and plunder. Mencius advised King Xuan to help them install a new ruler and then withdraw the army to win the people’s support, but the king, coveting Yan’s territory, refused. The result was a rebellion in Yan, a coalition of states attacking Qi, and a devastating defeat for Qi. This left Mencius deeply disillusioned.
- A Fundamental Clash of Ideals: King Xuan aimed for “wealth and military power,” while Mencius advocated “protecting the people to achieve true kingship.” Though the king showed superficial respect, he never genuinely implemented benevolent governance.
The final struggle before leaving
Upon reaching the border town of Zhou, Mencius intentionally stayed for three days, hoping King Xuan would recall him. Although the king sent an envoy to persuade him to stay, he never demonstrated sincere commitment. After expressing his grievances clearly, Mencius ultimately left Qi for good.
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