The Research On Mencius’ Cultivation Theory

Cultivation theory is an important content of the Chinese traditional culture, on which different schools of thought have done a lot of research. In a certain sense, Confucianism can be said to be about cultivation of mind theory. Mencius is as one of the representatives of Confucianism and cultivation of mind theory runs through all of his thoughts. Theory of mind is the ontological basis of Mencius’ theory of cultivation. Mencius’ theory of cultivation is based on the harmony between good nature and man and nature. This paper discusses cultivation efforts and the destination of cultivation realm. Mencius’ theory of cultivation is divided into six sequences: “good” “faith” “beauty” “great” “holy” “god”. The six sequences are divided into three stages of time: “the manifestation of nature under study” “the expansion of nature” “the disappearance of the rules”. Through the three stages of time, we can become a saint after the different sequences of cultivation.Mencius’ theory of cultivation is a practical philosophy. “The reduction of appetite” “the reserve of nature” and “the fostering of the spirit” are put forward. They play an important role in the shaping of perfect personality. So inheriting and developing the Mencius’ theory about cultivation properly has significant contemporary values.