Mencius states lords’ three genuine treasures are land, people and state governance. Rulers who value pearls and jade above these essentials will court calamity, embodying his people-first governance and righteousness-over-gain principle.
Mencius outlines three state levies: fabric, grain and labor. Wise rulers impose only one and ease the rest. Dual levies cause starvation; all three tear families apart, embodying his light-tax, people-centered benevolent governance.