When did Mencius live and what was his lifespan?
Mencius lived from approximately 371 BC to 289 BC. He spent roughly forty years traveling between states offering advice to rulers who sought reform.
Questions about Mencius
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Mencius's mother move their home three times during his childhood?
Zhang moved her son Meng Ke three times to find the right environment for a child after he imitated funeral rites near a cemetery and copied merchants in a market. The family finally settled near a school where scholars studied daily, allowing him to begin studying seriously under the influence of students and teachers.
What specific dates did Mencius serve at the Jixia Academy within the state of Qi?
Mencius served as an official and scholar at the Jixia Academy within the state of Qi from 319 BC until 312 BC. During this tenure he took three years leave to mourn his mother's death with deep filial piety.
How does Mencius define innate goodness using the example of a child falling down a well?
Mencius used the example of a child falling down a well to show that anyone witnessing such an accident would feel immediate alarm and distress without prior instruction. True improvement comes through educational cultivation within supportive surroundings rather than mere external controls.
When was the first full edition of Mencius published by François Noël in Prague?
François Noël published the first full edition in Prague in 1711 after the Chinese Rites controversy ended against Jesuits. This edition attained little influence outside central and eastern Europe despite its historical importance.