Encyclopedia: Mencius

Mencius [Meng Ke]; 孟子[孟軻]

You are here: [ Home –> Three Kingdoms History –> Encyclopedia –> Mencius ]

Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Encyclopedia
You are viewing the profile of Mencius [Meng Ke] (孟子[孟軻]) born in State of Zhou [鄒國] (Present-day county-level city of Zoucheng [邹城]). “Chinese philosopher. Often considered to the most famous Confucian outside Confucius himself.” Return to the Three Kingdoms Encyclopedia to learn more or explore our Encyclopedia Directory to browse by kingdom or category.

Top?

Mencius [Meng Ke] 孟子[孟軻]

Lived: 372–289 BC

Biographies:
None Available

Served: Historical

Chinese philosopher. Often considered to the most famous Confucian outside Confucius himself.

Officer Details

Wade-Giles: 0 [Mêng K‘o]
Simplified Chinese: 孟子[孟轲]
Pronunciation: Meng4zi3 [Meng4ke1]
Cantonese (Yale): Maangji [Maango]
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Maangzi [Maango]

Birthplace: State of Zhou [鄒國]
(Present-day county-level city of Zoucheng [邹城])

Other Names: Mencius, Mengzi, Master Meng, Meng Ke, Meng Ko, Meng

Name Notes: Rarely referenced as Meng Ke (sometimes Meng Ko), his actual name. Best known as ‘Mencius’, a variation of the name Mengzi (孟子). Posthumously named Master Meng the Second Sage (亞聖孟子; Yàshèng Mèngzǐ).

Rank and Titles

Master Meng the Second Sage [亞聖孟子]

Family and Relationships

Zhang (仉) 仉 (Mother)

Literary Appearances

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 23, 37, 60

Premium External Linkage

First class external must-reads. Enjoy!

Biography

Collaborative Works

Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko and arguably the most famous Confucian aside from Confucius himself, was born in the State of Zou (鄒國), now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng (邹城; originally Zouxian), Shandong province, only thirty kilometres (eighteen miles) south of Qufu, Confucius’ birthplace.

Some disagreement exists in regard to Mencius’ lifespan. The most commonly accepted dates have him born in 372 BC and place his death at 289 BC. Other possible dates are 385–303/302 BC.

He was an itinerant Chinese philosopher and sage, and one of the principal interpreters of Confucianism. Supposedly, he was a pupil of Confucius’ grandson, Zisi. Like Confucius, according to legend, he travelled China for forty years to offer advice to rulers for reform.[5] During the Warring States Period (403–221 BC), Mencius served as an official and scholar at the Jixia Academy in the State of Qi (齊; pinyin: qí; 1046 BC to 221 BC) from 319 to 312 BC. He expressed his filial devotion when he took an absence of three years from his official duties for Qi to mourn his mother’s death. Disappointed at his failure to effect changes in his contemporary world, he retired from public life.

Source: branched from Wikipedia for local editing.

Kongming’s
Archives

Sections

Novel and History

Officers and Kingdoms

Literature and Language

Universal

April 10, 2023