Mencius traces the sage Way’s five-century transmission from Yao-Shun to Confucius via direct witnesses and later inheritors. A century after Confucius, he grieves no successor carries the orthodox line, revealing his solemn mission to uphold Confucian wisdom.
Mencius divides people into two types: ordinary folks wait for sage King Wen to inspire them, while heroic moral scholars forge ahead independently. It highlights inner initiative, urging intellectuals to uphold virtue without relying on favorable rulers.
Confucius traced his teachings back to Yao and Shun,and took Wen and Wu as his models for institutions.Above, he conformed to the rhythms of Heaven’s seasons;below, he followed the patterns of earth, water, and soil.
The Way of Heaven and Earth can be summed up in a single phrase:Because it is undivided and without duality, its power to generate life is unfathomable.
The Master said:“Who but King Wen could be truly free from worry?He had King Ji as his father and King Wu as his son –his father initiated the enterprise, and his son carried it forward.”
The Book of Odes says:“The royal domain extends a thousand li – this is where the people find their abode.”