Mencius Study Of Yao And Shun

"When Mencius said the truth of good nature,he would be called Yao and shun." The image and related deeds of Yao and Shun can be seen everywhere in the text of Mencius.Mencius talks about various issues involving the use of the concept of Yao and shun."Calling Yao and Shun" can be regarded as a distinctive feature of Mencius’ philosophy.Compared with Confucius who focused on the historical achievements of Yao and Shun,Mencius paid more attention to morality.In Mencius’ philosophical world,Yao and Shun are adults with complete moral heart.In terms of human relations and morality dimension,they are the model of dealing with filial piety and monarchy.At the same time,in the dimension of social morality,they provided a historical basis for consciously grasping and abiding by the moral norms of benevolence and justice,and for carrying out benevolent government following the way of the former kings.Yao and Shun,in the moral dimension of heaven and earth,are the "big men" who can combine virtue with heaven and earth and understand the way of heaven.They are not only good at cultivating their nature,expanding and filling it,but also good at cultivating their great and upright spirit,representing the highest spiritual realm of "harmonious coexistence between God and man".Mencius’ "calling Yao and Shun" is of great significance in the history of thought.Its use of the concept of Yao and Shun has both similarities and differences with other scholars’ investigation of Yao and shun.It not only inherits and maintains Confucius’ thought vertically,but also enriches the content of Yao Shun’s view of Confucianism;it also promotes the construction of its own theoretical system horizontally,integrating the theory of good nature,benevolent government,ideal personality and so on,so that the basic spirit of Confucianism can be gradually established.