During the Warring States period, the vassal states were constantly in conflict and social turmoil. In order to protect their own interests and expand their territory, the rulers frequently waged wars, which led to the hardship of the people.
Against this background, Mencius lobbied the princes of various countries to promote his idea of "benevolent government". He believed that rulers should put the people first, practice the royal way, pay attention to the people's weal and woe, and enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment.
"The Widow to the Country" is a dialogue between Mencius and King Hui of Liang, which shows Mencius's political ideas by discussing some of the practices of King Hui of Liang in governing the country.
original
King Liang Hui said: "The widow is also to the country, and he is dedicated to his ears." If the people of Hanoi are vicious, they will move their people to the east of the river and their millet to Hanoi, and the same will be true for the murderers in the east of the river. Those who observe the politics of neighboring countries are not as good as those who have the intentions of a few people. Why not add to the people of the neighboring countries, and not to increase the people of the few?"
Mencius said to him: "The king is warlike, please use war as a metaphor." Fill the drums, the blades are connected, abandon the armor and drag the soldiers away. Or a hundred steps and then stop, or fifty steps and then stop. What if you laugh at 50 steps and laugh at 100 steps?"
He said: "No, it is not a hundred steps, it is also walking." ”
He said, "If the king had known this, he would have no hope that there would be more people than his neighbors."
"If you don't violate the agricultural time, the grain can't be eaten; the number of grains can't enter the pond, and the fish and turtles can't be eaten; the axe and pound enter the mountains and forests at the right time, and the timber and wood can't be used. Grain and fish and turtles can not be eaten, timber and wood can not be used, it is to make the people live and die without regrets. There is no regret in health and death, and the beginning of the royal road is also.
"A house of five acres is a tree with mulberry, and fifty can be clothed; chickens, guineas, dogs, and animals can eat meat without losing time; and a hundred acres of land should not be taken away from the time, and a few families can be free from hunger; Seventy people eat meat, and the people are not hungry or cold, but those who are not kings are not not. ”
If a dog eats people without knowing how to check it, if it is painted with hunger and does not know how to do it, and when a person dies, he says: 'If it is not me, it is also a year.' How is it different from stabbing someone and killing him, saying, 'If it is not me, the soldier is also.'" 'The king is innocent, and the people of the world are the best. ”
Translation
King Liang Hui said: "I really put my heart into the country. When there was a famine in Hanoi, they moved the people there to the east of the river and brought grain from the east of the river to Hanoi, and the same was done when there was a famine in the east of the river. There is no one who is as attentive as I am in the government affairs of neighboring countries. Why is it that the people of the neighbouring countries have not decreased, and my people have not increased?"
Mencius replied, "The king likes to fight, let me use war as a metaphor." The drums of war were beating, and the two armies began to fight, and the defeated soldiers abandoned their armor and fled with their weapons in tow. Some people ran a hundred steps and stopped, and some people ran fifty steps and stopped. What about laughing at others for running a hundred paces because they only ran fifty paces?"
King Liang Hui said: "No, it's just that I didn't run a hundred steps, this is also an escape." ”
Mencius said, "Since the great king knows this, let him not expect his people to be more numerous than his neighbors."
"If we do not go against the agricultural season, we will not be able to eat all the grain, if the fine fishing nets do not enter the ponds, the fish and turtles will not be able to eat, and if we go into the mountains to cut down trees at a certain time, we will not run out of wood. The grain, fish and turtles could not be eaten, and the wood could not be used up, so that the people had no dissatisfaction with life, raising, death and burial. The people are not dissatisfied with life, raising, death and burial, and this is the beginning of the royal road.
"If a five-acre dwelling is planted with mulberry trees, a fifty-year-old man will be clothed in silk fabrics; if chickens, pigs, and dogs are raised, do not miss the opportunity to breed, and a seventy-year-old man will be able to eat meat; and if a hundred-acre field is planted without delaying the cultivation season, a family of a few will not go hungry." If we conscientiously set up schools and educate the people, and repeatedly explain the principles of respecting parents and loving brothers, the old people with gray hair will not be carrying things on the road. A seventy-year-old man can wear silk and eat meat, and the people are not hungry or cold, but there is no one who has done this, but he cannot unify the world and become kings.
"Pigs and dogs eat the food that people eat but do not know how to control it, and when people die of hunger on the road they do not know how to give to the hungry people, and when they die, they say, 'It has nothing to do with me, it is because of the bad years.'" What is the difference between killing people and saying, 'It has nothing to do with me, it's a weapon to kill?' Don't blame Niancheng, my lord, then the people of the world will come and join you." ”
赏析
"The Widow to the State" is a classic work of Mencius, which profoundly expounds his idea of "benevolent government".
With its unique way of argumentation, rigorous logical structure, and rich ideological connotation, this article has become a treasure of ancient Chinese political philosophy, literature and art.
First of all, the article uses the argumentative method of "leading the gentleman into the court" to skillfully introduce Liang Huiwang into the topic set by himself.
By forcing King Hui of Liang to admit that his governance was only a temporary response and not a true love for the people, Mencius revealed the truth that his government was not fundamentally different from that of his neighbors.
This style of argument not only demonstrates Mencius's wisdom, but also his keen political insight.
Secondly, the article adopts the form of "chain reasoning", emphasizing that the implementation of benevolent government should start from not violating agricultural time, developing production, and solving the most basic problems of food and clothing for the people.
Mencius believed that only by gradually improving the material living standards of the people, and then receiving education and understanding the "righteousness of filial piety", can the people be attached to them and the country prosperous.
This thought embodies Mencius's deep concern for the people's livelihood and his foresight for the long-term stability of the country.
In terms of the structure of the essay, Mencius shows his rigorous writing style.
On the surface, the article is extravagant and seemingly undisciplined, but in fact, the paragraphs are clear, the layers are orderly, and they are interlocking and inseparable.
The content of each part plays the role of the finishing touch, which not only reflects the internal connection between the parts, but also connects the whole text into an organic whole.
In addition, "The Widow to the State" also embodies Mencius's people-oriented thought.
He advocated "protecting the people and being the king," believing that only by practicing benevolent government can we win the hearts of the people, and only by winning the hearts of the people can we win the world.
This kind of thinking emphasizes the central position of the people in the governance of the state, and reflects Mencius's deep understanding of the power of the people and his initial exploration of the idea of democracy.
Overall, "The Widow to the Country" is a work with both ideological depth and artistic charm.
Through its unique way of argumentation, rigorous logical structure, and rich ideological connotation, it demonstrates Mencius's outstanding political wisdom and literary talent.
This article is not only of great significance for understanding Mencius's idea of "benevolent government", but also has an enlightening effect on our thinking about national governance and people's livelihood today.