Mencius studied Confucianism in primary school and entered school at the age of fifteen. He is a "disciple of Zisi (the grandson of Confucius)". Between the ages of 30 and 40, Mencius taught in Zou Lu with hundreds of students.
In the era of Mencius' life, the military strategist and legalist were the most favored academics of the governors of various countries. In the face of the war between princes, Mencius shouldered the historical responsibility and mission of "who should be killed today" with the ideal of saving the people from fire and water. Lead disciples to travel around the world and carry out benevolent policies. Lobbying Liang (Wei), Qi, Song, Teng, Lu and other countries. In 3 19 BC, Qi Xuanwang succeeded to the throne and restored the "Xia Ji Gong Xue", which became the center of political consultation, academic and cultural exchange and an important place for a hundred schools of thought to contend. So Mencius went to Qi again and was hired as a guest by Qi Xuanwang.
Mencius absorbed the strengths of the scholars in Jixia Academy, broke through the limitations of Confucius' thought, and comprehensively and systematically expounded the benevolent policies such as respecting the virtuous, making the people serve, and unifying the world. This is not only an important stage for Mencius to engage in political activities, but also an important symbol of his ideological maturity. Mencius' thought of benevolent governance gave Qi Xuanwang great encouragement and appreciation, but the King of Qi wanted to rule the vassals by force, which led to differences with Mencius. When his political ambition was difficult to realize, Mencius left Qi and returned to Zou.
When he returned to Zou, Mencius was over sixty years old and had never traveled far. Instead, I started a school in my hometown, recruited disciples, answered questions with Zhang Wan, Gong Sunchou and other disciples, and compiled Mencius. This book records the main speeches, activities and thoughts and theories of his life. It is rich and colorful, profound and profound, and it is a precious spiritual wealth he left to future generations.
On the solstice of the winter of 289 BC, Mencius died at the age of 84 and was buried at the foot of the Four Seasons Mountain in Zou, which is now Menglin. Zou Guoren was very sad because of Mencius' death, and he abolished the custom of winter solstice ("Zou people gave up the winter ceremony because they cried Mencius").
After the death of Mencius, scholars greatly praised him and established the position of direct descendant of Confucianism. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Mencius was first called "a great talent of the world". In the first year of Yuan Dynasty (1330), Wenzong named Mencius as "the sage of Zou Guoya".