This chapter records debates between Mozi and Confucian Gong Mengzi. Mozi refutes Confucian views on passive conduct, ancient robes, fatalism, elaborate funerals and empty music, denouncing four harmful Confucian doctrines while acknowledging Confucius’ valid ideas.
This dialogue chapter collects Mozi’s debates with disciples and opponents. It defends universal love against egoism, condemns offensive wars, prioritizes righteousness over wealth, and refutes conservative Confucian views with vivid analogies.
This chapter fiercely refutes Confucianism. It criticizes hierarchical mourning, fatalism, empty rituals and Confucian hypocrisy, and accuses Confucius of political scheming and inconsistent conduct, dismissing his doctrines as harmful to state welfare.
This chapter distinguishes aggressive invasions from Heaven-sanctioned righteous punitive campaigns. It denounces offensive wars for harming heaven, spirits and civilians, and advocates benevolent governance to win vassals without bloodshed.
This chapter denounces aggressive wars. By escalating crimes from petty theft to mass killing, Mozi exposes people’s moral hypocrisy: they condemn minor crimes yet glorify invasive warfare as righteous, lacking clear justice judgment.