Mengzi and the "Three Moves"
Real Estate service "MENG HOMES™" by Peter Hsiang-Kai Meng 孟祥凱 - 75th decendant of Mengzi (c. 372—289 B.C.E.) who was a Ruism philosopher, which is described as tradition or simply a way of life. Mengzi is best known for his claim that “human nature tends good" and people should "dwell in benevolence and righteousness." It is reflective of Confucius teaching "when you choose a living environment, how can you consider yourself wise if you don't choose a residential area that is full of kindness and virtuous?" Mengzi's mother is often held up as an exemplary female figure in Chinese culture. One of the most famous traditional Chinese four-character idioms is 孟母三遷 (pinyin: mèngmǔ-sānqiān; literally: 'Mengzi's mother moves three times'); this saying refers to the legend that Mengzi's mother moved three times before finding a home location that she felt was suitable for the child's upbringing. As an expression, the idiom refers to the importance of finding the proper environment for raising children. The trademark graphic is actually the "Meng" Chinese last name character and symbols represent kindness and virtuous fortunes.
Four Sprouts of virtues (Mengzi)
The sprouts are manifested in cognitive and emotional reactions characteristic of the virtues.
Reference of Ruism - RENYI (Mengzi) Teachings
by Notable People or Events in History
元文宗 Wenzong EmperorWenzong Emperor, 12th Great Khan of the Mongol Empire or Mongols
元文宗 Wenzong EmperorWenzong Emperor, 12th Great Khan of the Mongol Empire or Mongols
In the Yuan Dynasty to the first year of the Wenzong Dynasty (1330), Mencius was added as the "Vice Sage Holy", and later called "Vice Sage", second only to Confucius.
漢文帝 Emperor HanwenEmperor Hanwen created the first prosperous era in Chinese history.
漢文帝 Emperor HanwenEmperor Hanwen created the first prosperous era in Chinese history.
Emperor Hanwen established doctoral officers of "Book" and "Poetry" to further encourage the development of Ruism culture. The book of Mengzi's primary identity in the process of cultural reconstruction in the Han Dynasty is the inheritor and recorder of the wisdom of the three generations of culture and the Axial Age. Because of its inheritance and transformation, it was able to take root and rejuvenate in the new cultural environment, and then passed on for thousands of years and provide kindness to hundreds of generations.
宋神宗 Emperor ShenzongFour books is one of the core value and ideology systems in Ruism.
宋神宗 Emperor ShenzongFour books is one of the core value and ideology systems in Ruism.
Book of Mencius is one of the Four books identifying core value and ideology systems in Ruism. They were selected by Zhu Xi in the Song dynasty to serve as general introduction to Ruism thought. Beginning in the Yuan then Ming and Qing dynasties, made the core of the official curriculum for the civil service examinations and during present days taught in virtually all schools through-out China.
朱元璋 Hongwu EmperorThe founder and first emperor of China's Ming dynasty.
朱元璋 Hongwu EmperorThe founder and first emperor of China's Ming dynasty.
The Hongwu Emperor, in recognizing both Confucius and Mengzi (Meng) descendants extraordinarily outstanding. They were given the field to farm, exempt from corvee, and ten generations middle name starting from Mencius's fifty-sixth generation Meng Xi Wen. The descendants of Mengzi still use generation poems for their names given to them by the Ming and Qing Emperors along with the descendants of the other Four Sages (四氏): Confucius, Zengzi, and Yan Hui
雍正 Yongzheng EmperorThe Yongzheng Emperor, was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty.
雍正 Yongzheng EmperorThe Yongzheng Emperor, was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty.
In the middle of the lobby of the Mengzi House in Zoucheng, Shandong Province, “Seven Chapters Disciplines Given" is hung in the middle of the hall by Qing Emperor Yongzheng. The intention of the Emperor Yongzheng was to inform the posterity of Meng to use Mencius' "seven chapters" as the guidelines and actions of the later generations of Meng.
乾隆帝 Emperor QianlongQianlong Emperor is the fourth child of Yongzheng Emperor
乾隆帝 Emperor QianlongQianlong Emperor is the fourth child of Yongzheng Emperor
"Praise Mengzi" (pictured) by the Emperor Qianlong of the Qianlong thirteen years (1748). The original stone of the Priase Mengzi is located in the first temple of the Qianlong Temple in the east of the Meng Temple. In the inscription, Emperor Qianlong elaborated on the social background of Mengzi. According to historical records, the Emperor Qianlong not only sent the minister to the Mengzi Temple in the five times when he was in the Qufu, but also visited the Zou County twice during the 22nd and 27th years of Qianlong. He paid respect by knelt and bowed down in respect of Mengzi.
Dr Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen was the founding father of the Republic of China.
Dr Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen was the founding father of the Republic of China.
Dr. Sun told Japanese reporters: The origin of the Three People's Principles of my generation stems from Mengzi, ... Mengzi is the originator of democracy.
愛子內親王 Princess ToshiThe only child of Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan
愛子內親王 Princess ToshiThe only child of Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan
In a break with tradition, the name of the princess was chosen by her parents, instead of by the Emperor. It was selected from clause 56 of Li Lou II, one of the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Mengzi:
"One who loves the others will be constantly loved by them; one who respects others will be constantly respected by them."
(愛人者人恆愛之，敬人者人恆敬之。)
Glenn Berger, PhDPsychotherapist, Amen Certified Brain Coach, and Author
Glenn Berger, PhDPsychotherapist, Amen Certified Brain Coach, and Author
"On Donald Trump’s 100th day in office, the President stated that to do his job he needed “heart.” This brought to mind the words and wisdom of my favorite Chinese philosopher, Mengzi (MEN – shuhs). Though virtually unknown today in the West, this disciple of Confucius, who lived during the 4th century BCE, is considered by many to be the wisest sage who ever lived." Finding Trump’s Heart 05/28/2017
Richard Penaskovic, PhDEmeritus Professor at Auburn University.
Richard Penaskovic, PhDEmeritus Professor at Auburn University.
"Mengzi had a very upbeat notion of life and stressed the basic goodness of every person ... Might we in the U.S. take to heart some of the ancient wisdom of the Chinese? Kindness, joy, and compassion to all we meet, should be the hallmark of America. ... We’re all in this together, come what may." November 19, 2020, The Auburn Villager
Fu Peirong PhDDoctorate from the United States Yale University Dept. of Religion
Fu Peirong PhDDoctorate from the United States Yale University Dept. of Religion
Dr. Fu stated "it is alike an opportunity in three life times having the connection to comprehend in detail the teachings of Mencius and Confucius."
Jang-geumKorean TV Drama
Jang-geumKorean TV Drama
Jewel in the Palace, is a widely popular 2003 Korean television series. In one episode the main character - would be physician Jan-geum was given oral examination on the correspondence Mencius had with the King who suggests that Mencius had deigned to visit because he “must have a way of profiting my state,” Mencius rebukes him: Why must Your Majesty speak of “profit”? Let there simply be "benevolence and righteousness."
Chen-Ning Frank YangReceived the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics
Chen-Ning Frank YangReceived the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics
Dr. Yang wrote in his autobiography that he abides by the teachings of Mengzi in the way he behaves himself and conducts works since he was thirty (30) years old.
Alejandro A. Chafuen, PhDManaging Director, International, of Acton Institute.
Alejandro A. Chafuen, PhDManaging Director, International, of Acton Institute.
How do a philosopher who lived 23 centuries ago and an adventurer and discoverer from the 14th century relate to today’s economic policies? Mengzi’s ideas and the life and legacy of Marco Polo are being used to reduce Western and U.S. resistance to Chinese efforts to build a new trade route, more extensive than the old Silk Road: the “Belt and Road Initiative.” Bringing China And The West Together: Can Mengzi Help? Forbes April 17, 2019, Alejandro Chafuen
Alejandro A. Chafuen, PhDProfessor of philosophy at Vassar College in New York
Alejandro A. Chafuen, PhDProfessor of philosophy at Vassar College in New York
Although Mengzi was born long after Confucius died, he is referred to as the ‘Second Sage’ because he shaped the form that Confucianism would take for the next two millennia, not just in China, but also in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Also known as ‘Mencius’ (the Latinisation of his name given by early Jesuit missionaries), Mengzi is attracting renewed interest among Western philosophers. Not only does Mengzi provide an intriguing alternative to Aristotelian accounts of the virtues and their cultivation, but his claims about human nature are supported by recent empirical research.
Eric SchwitzgebelProfessor of Philosophy, University of California, Riverside
Eric SchwitzgebelProfessor of Philosophy, University of California, Riverside
"Care about me not because you can imagine what you would selfishly want if you were me. Care about me because you see how I am not really so different from others you already love." How Mengzi came up with something better than the Golden Rule November 2019