New Exploration On Mencius’ Theory Of "Ren Zheng"

"Ren Zheng" is a fairly representative political theory of Confucians which was first presented and gived in-depth study by Mencius. In essence, Mencius’theory of "Ren Zheng" can be said that "People-Based politics" or "moralized politics". Mencius’idea of "Ren Zheng" and "kingly way" and "rule of virtue" which has special meaning of each other are pretty close with slightly differences.Modern idea of "Ren Zheng" has both a narrow and a broad sense, we know the former when it is used as "political ideal". As a "political ideal" Mencius’"Ren Zheng" is desirable in traditional Chinese society for three reasons:firstly it can be used to oppose "tyranny"; secondly it can make up the "autarchy"; finally the imagination of "political meritocracy" can be realized. However, after entering the modern society, we need to transform Mencius’ideal of "Ren Zheng" in two ways:on the one hand, it must be transformed from "people-based politics" into "democratic politics"; on the other hand, it must be transformed from "Moralized politics" into "moral politics"To some degree, it can be said that Mencius’idea of "Ren Zheng" and moral "limited politics" are similar but not identical from the perspective of "constitutionalism" or "limited politics". The relationship between "Ren Zheng" and "Constitutionalism" is:the purpose of the former is "promoting virtue" which emphasizes what to do; on the contrary, the latter’s is "forsaking evil" which emphasizes what not to do.Although Mencius’theory of "Ren Zheng" is just a "political ideal", but it has a profound influence on the social history in China.