The Scholarly Pursuit: Mencius’ Insights on Officialdom in Ancient China

In the text from “Mencius: Li Lou Shang,” Zhou Xiao asks Mencius, “Did gentlemen in ancient times also seek official positions?” Mencius responds with historical references, affirming that indeed they did. He quotes from the “Zhuangzi,” stating that if Confucius went three months without seeing a gentleman, he would hesitate and consider verification before leaving. Thus, in ancient times, if a gentleman went three months without seeing another, someone would visit to console him.

Zhou Xiao questions, “Isn’t it too urgent to console someone after only three months?” Mencius counters with a passage from the “Book of Rites,” explaining that nobles cultivated fields to provide sacrificial offerings, and their wives raised silkworms for clothing. If sacrificial animals were not healthy, or if the grain and clothing were not proper, they dared not proceed with ceremonies, let alone banquets. Isn’t this insufficient reason for consoling them?

Further, Zhou Xiao asks why verification is necessary before leaving a place. Mencius likens scholars entering officialdom to farmers tending their fields. Just as a farmer wouldn’t abandon his tools when leaving the field, a scholar shouldn’t abandon principles when seeking office.

Zhou Xiao mentions that in Jin, scholars can pursue office without such urgency. Why then, he asks, are gentlemen apprehensive about seeking office? Mencius replies with an analogy: just as parents hope their children will marry well but frown upon unsanctioned matches, so too do people disdain those who seek office without merit. In ancient times, gentlemen desired office but abhorred unorthodox methods; seeking office through such means was akin to sneaking through a hole in the wall.

Analysis:

This excerpt from “Mencius: Li Lou Shang” captures Mencius’ dialogue with Zhou Xiao on the topic of scholars pursuing official positions in ancient China. The passage is logically structured, tightly argued, and showcases Mencius’ depth of thought, charisma, and unique rhetorical style.

Firstly, Mencius cites ancient texts and Gong Mingyi’s words to affirm the historical attitude towards officialdom among gentlemen, underscoring his approval of the pursuit of office by gentlemen in ancient times. He then uses a passage from the “Book of Rites” to illustrate the necessity of scholars entering officialdom, contrasting the sacrificial practices of nobles and scholars. This method of citing ancient texts gives his arguments an unquestionable authority and demonstrates Mencius’ profound knowledge.

Furthermore, Mencius employs the metaphor of farmers carrying their tools into the fields to illustrate the necessity of scholars pursuing official positions, skillfully using metaphorical techniques to make his points more vivid and lively. He then refers to the example of Jin to raise Zhou Xiao’s question, thereby drawing out his own views. This question-and-answer method makes the entire text more logically rigorous and enhances the forcefulness of his views.

Finally, Mencius uses the analogy of parents expecting their children to marry to illustrate that everyone desires official positions but dislikes unorthodox means. This analogy is both vivid and philosophical, fully demonstrating Mencius’ deep humanistic concerns and moral sentiments. At the same time, this analogy also demonstrates Mencius’ unique literary style, that is, using fables to illustrate principles and using principles to illustrate emotions, making his views both profound and emotional.

Overall, this classical Chinese text reveals Mencius’ profound understanding and insightful views on gentlemen pursuing official positions in ancient times, fully demonstrating his profound knowledge, rigorous logic, unique rhetorical techniques, and deep humanistic concerns. This is a text with depth and breadth, worthy of in-depth study and appreciation.

This translation and analysis provide a comprehensive overview of Mencius’ perspectives on scholars seeking official positions in ancient China, presenting his arguments clearly and effectively for an English-speaking audience.