Mencius (372-289 BC) was the most outstanding expounder of Confucius' doctrines, after the master himself. In particular, he further developed the idea of benevolence - a key theme of Confucianism. He championed justice for the people and deplored the chronic internecine warfare between the states, into which China was divided in his day. His theory that man is naturally good holds a significant position in the history of Chinese philosophy.

One of the four classics of the Confucian school, the Mencius records the views of Mencius and his disciples on politics, education, philosophy and ethics, as well as accounts of some of their doings. The book is indispensable for the study of the Confucian school and its development by Mencius.

Here, a translation into modern Chinese is appended, passage by passage, accompanied by English versions.

Mencius (most accepted dates: 372 BC � 289 BC; other possible dates: 385 BC � 303 BC or 302 BC) was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng, Shandong province, only 30 km (18 miles) south of Qufu, the town of Confucius. He was an itinerant Chinese philosopher and sage, and one of the principal interpreters of Confucianism. Like Confucius, according to legend, he traveled China for forty years to offer advice to rulers for reform. He served as an official during the Warring States Period (403 � 221 BC) in the State of Qi from 319 BC 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.

A follower of Confucianism, Mencius argued for the infinite goodness of the individual, believing that it was society's influence—its lack of a positive cultivating influence—which caused bad character. He even argued that it was acceptable for people to overthrow or even kill a ruler who ignored the people's needs and ruled harshly. Mencius argued that human beings are born with an innate moral sense which society has corrupted, and that the goal of moral cultivation is to return to one's innate morality.

Mencius' interpretation of Confucianism has generally been considered the orthodox version by subsequent Chinese philosophers, especially the Neo-Confucians of the Song dynasty. Mencius (also spelled Mengzi or Meng-tzu), a book of his conversations with kings of the time, is one of the Four books which form the core of orthodox Confucian thinking. In contrast to the sayings of Confucius which are short and self-contained, Mencius consists of long dialogues with extensive prose.

Mencius spoke frequently and highly of the well-field system.