Many students who learn Chinese in China are quite interested in the ancient Chinese philosophy, which mostly originated from the Warring Period. Today we will introduce several famous thinkers in this period, for their thoughts have been affecting Chinese people for thousands of years.
The first thinker will introduce is Mo-tse. I believe you have already heard something about him if you study Chinese in China. He is the thinker and statesman in ancient China and the originator of Mohist School. He holds the idea of “death by accident” and “universal love” and keeps against the Confucian idea of “destiny” and “discriminatory love”. He believes that we should not have discrimination in loving people.
Some students who study Mandarin in China used to talk about his idea of “anti-war” in the discussion about the Chinese philosophy. They mentioned that this idea reflects the intention of people that protest invasion wars at that time. This great thinker also advocates frugality and simple burials, which are the protest to the luxurious life of the aristocracy class at that time.
According to the historical books for students to learn Chinese in China, he is the first thinker who basically realizes that working is the foundation for human life and he used to try to persuade the officials to improve the social position and economic position of labors and small producers.
His achievement on the proposition of materialism, I guess, will be the most familiar part for students who study Mandarin in China. Generally speaking, his ideas had great influence in the ancient Chinese thinking circles and enjoyed the equal popularity with Confucian School at that time.
In addition to Confucius, another representative of Confucian School is Mencius, who has also been heard by students before they came to study Chinese in China. The original name of Mencius is Meng Ke. And Mencius is the respectful address for him, for his great contribution to the idea of Confucian School.
He propounds the ideas of “benevolent government” and “kingcraft”. He advocates the thought that the king is the ruler of everything and government should protect its people. Materials collected by students when they learn Chinese in China indicate that Mencius is against the annexation wars by military force and thinks king should treat his people with kind heart and give people fixed industry so that people can get rid of hunger and coldness. After this, king can use etiquette education and the whole country can be unified.
His assertions about the influence of environment and education are quite agreed by many students who study Mandarin in China. His theories played an important role in Confucian School in Song Dynasty and he is considered as the inheritor of the Confucian theories. If you study Chinese in China, you may have probably heard about the title of “the Second Sage” which belongs to Mencius.
Some people may have learnt something about the ideas of Taoist School, when they learn Chinese in China. The originator of Taoist School is Lao-tse and the ideas of Chuang-tzu originate from Lao-tse’s.
Chuang-tzu wrote seven chapters which have been introduced generally by the teacher to students who study Chinese in China. These seven chapters show the negative thoughts of the society at that time and his extremely pessimistic and worldweary theory.
In Chinese culture class, the teacher used to tell students who study Mandarin in China a small story about Chuang-tzu. According to Shih Chi, Chuang-tzu used to be a small official in his hometown and resigned after a short period. The King of Chu State at that time heard that Chuang-tzu had great talent so that he sent two ambassadors to invite him to be engaged in the prime minister of Chu State in fat salary. But Chuang-tzu said, “Fat salary and high position are good things in other people’s eyes, but they are just like an ox which is prepared as the sacrifice. After feeding up for many years, it will be covered with beautiful clothes and sent to the imperial temple as sacrifice to be killed. I would rather be a fish than the ox, for fish can enjoy freedom in water.
We can see his characteristics and outlook on life from this historical record. As one of the important representatives of Taoist School, Chuang-tzu has influenced many great people in Chinese history. Tao Yuanming is one of the most famous people who support Chuang-tzu.