All humans have compassion — Mencius and his philosophy on kindness (3)

Mencius' political philosophy is based on benevolence. In a dialogue with King Xuan of Qi, he said, “Your majesty, can you accept a statement by someone who said, ‘I am strong enough to lift something as heavy as 15 tons but not a feather. I can see the tip of a new down but not a cartload of firewood.” The king replied, “No.” Mencius then explained that one fails to make an effort so the feather is unable to be lifted, and one fails to use his sights so the cartload of firewood cannot be seen.

The philosopher used the examples as an analogy to criticize King Xuan of Qi’s failure in practicing kindness. He said: “You felt compassion to an ox, but did you ever feel for the elderly crawling on the streets? You raise strong horses and are sufficient with food. However, did you care about your subjects, many of whom are starving to death?”

A refusal or an inability attributes to failures. Mencius said, when a person is asked to stride over the North Sea with Taishan Mountain under his arm, he fails to do it because it is a genuine case of inability to act. But when a person fails to break a branch for an elderly person as a walking stick, the reason comes to his refusal to the task.

What Mencius wants to present is all about benevolence. People with or without benevolence will step on opposite roads. Mencius said to the king, a king who is absent in benevolence might govern a country. However, by using violence, he is unable to unite the world and won’t be a popular governor.

The people longed for a benevolent king coming as they longed for a rainbow in time of severe drought. Farmers rely on their crops to support their living and always expect favorable weather conditions. When a drought comes in the seventh and eighth lunar months, the young seedlings will wilt. The farmers desire to see clouds gather in the sky and rain come pouring down, and then the seedlings will spring up again.

Therefore, Mencius said to the king, “Your majesty, if you govern the country with benevolence, the people will turn to you like water flowing downwards with a tremendous force.” All intellectuals will support your reign because you can properly mobilize your officials’ virtue and talents. Merchants will do business in your market, thanks to low tax burden, peasants will farm on your land, and travelers will explore in your realm, according to Mencius. He said, “The benevolent man has no match.” A benevolent man avoids a fist fight but wins the support of others using his heart of compassion and empathy.

Fundamentally, all Chinese philosophical thoughts deliver ways of governance, specifically moral charisma.

(The author is a cultural scholar.)

(Translated by Chen Siqi)