When the crown prince of Teng (later Duke Wen of Teng) was traveling to Chu, he passed through Song and went to see Mencius.
Mencius talked to him that human nature is inherently good, and in his speech constantly cited Yao and Shun as models.
On his return from Chu, the prince visited Mencius again.
Mencius said to him:
“Do you doubt what I’ve said? There is only one true Dao – no other.
Long ago, Cheng Jian said to Duke Jing of Qi:
‘He’s a gentleman; I’m a gentleman too – why should I stand in awe of him?’
Yan Hui said:
‘What kind of person was Shun? What kind am I? Anyone who strives can become like Shun!’
Gongming Yi declared:
‘King Wen is my teacher – would the Duke of Zhou deceive me?’
Now, your state of Teng, even if changed to a square shape, is only about fifty li square – yet it can still become a virtuous state!
The Book of Documents says:
‘If the medicine does not cause dizziness, the illness will not be cured.’”
滕文公為世子，將之楚，過宋而見孟子。孟子道性善，言必稱堯舜。
世子自楚反，復見孟子。孟子曰：「世子疑吾言乎？夫道一而已矣。成覸謂齊景公曰：『彼丈夫也，我丈夫也，吾何畏彼哉？』顏淵曰：『舜何人也？予何人也？有為者亦若是。』公明儀曰：『文王我師也，周公豈欺我哉？』今滕，絕長補短，將五十里也，猶可以為善國。《書》曰：『若藥不瞑眩，厥疾不瘳。』」
Note
This passage from Mencius: Teng Wen Gong I encapsulates three pillars of Mencius’ political philosophy: the goodness of human nature, the attainability of sagehood, and the feasibility of benevolent governance – even in small states.
Human nature is good: The foundation of Benevolent Rule
Mencius roots his entire political vision in the belief that humans are born with moral sprouts. Governance, therefore, should nurture these innate tendencies – not suppress them through coercion.
“Anyone who strives can become like Shun”
By quoting Yan Hui and others, Mencius dismantles the myth of saintly exceptionalism. Sagehood is not reserved for emperors or demigods but is open to all who cultivate virtue – a radical idea in a hierarchical world.
Hope for small powers
Teng was a tiny buffer state between Qi and Chu, often dismissed as politically irrelevant. Yet Mencius insists size doesn’t limit moral potential. History proved him right: under Duke Wen, Teng became a beacon of humane governance (Benevolent Rule).
The necessity of disruptive reform
Quoting the Book of Documents (The Book of History), Mencius warns that real reform causes short-term pain – resistance from elites, administrative upheaval – but without it, societal illness persists. True leadership requires courage to endure this “dizziness.”
Historical Significance: A rare Confucian experiment
Duke Wen of Teng is one of the few rulers who seriously implemented Mencian policies – land reform, education, light taxation. His success demonstrated that Confucianism was not mere theory but a viable path to good governance.
In this dialogue, Mencius offers more than advice – he offers political hope: that with conviction and effort, even the smallest ruler can transform the world.
Leave a Reply