How does Mencius think Shun won the world?

"But there is a world in the world, so what is it?"

Say, "Heaven follows it.

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Zhang Wan asked, "Who gave it to him when he won the world?"

Mencius replied, "It's from heaven."

According to the general traditional understanding, in the era of abdication, the monarchical power of this generation was granted by the son of heaven of the previous generation. This is the view of Zhang Wan, a student of Mencius.

Mencius, on the other hand, made a different answer from the traditional view, arguing that the Emperor of Heaven has no right to distribute the world to anyone, and only the Emperor of Heaven and the people (ordinary people) have this right. Obviously, Mencius spans two aspects, one foot across the sky, and has the mysterious color of "divine right of monarchy"; The other foot straddles the people, which smells like "people's contract theory".

original text

Zhang Wan said, "What good is Yao to the world and Shun?"

Mencius said, "No, the son of heaven cannot rule the world with others."

"But there is a world in the world, so what is it?"

Said, "Heaven is with it."

"Heaven is with you. What is your life?"

He said, "No, God didn't say anything, but showed it through actions and things."

He said, "What about those who show their actions and things?"

Yue: "the son of heaven can recommend people to heaven, but not to the world;" The vassal can recommend people to the emperor, but not to the emperor and the vassal; Doctors can recommend people to the governor, but not the governor and doctors. In the past, Jian Yao obeyed God, and God obeyed it; Violence is imposed on people and people suffer. Therefore, heaven does not say anything, but only shows it by deeds and things. "yue:" if you dare to ask, you can recommend it to heaven, and heaven will accept it; "What if violence is directed at the people and the people are subject to violence?"

Yue: "Let its chief sacrifice be enjoyed by the gods and accepted by heaven; It is also acceptable for the people to make it the main thing, but it is necessary to manage things well and ensure the safety of the people. Heaven is with him and man is with him, so the son of heaven cannot be with man in the world. Shunxiangyao has been in power for eight years, which is beyond human's power. Yao collapsed and lost his life for three years. He shunned Yao Zi in the south of the South River, and all the princes in the world offered incense without Yao Zi. Shun, not Yao's son, went to court in prison. A singer does not sing the son of Yao, but only Shun. So, heaven also. Then China, practice the son of heaven. And living in Yao's palace and forcing Yao's son is a usurper, not a heavenly way. Taishi said, "Heaven regards himself and others, and heaven listens to himself and others." This is also called.

Q: "Is it true that Yao won the first place in the world?"

Mencius said, "No, the son of heaven can't teach people the world."

Zhang Wan asked, "Who gave it to him when he won the world?"

Mencius replied, "It's from heaven."

Zhang Wan asked, "When God gave it to him, did you remind him repeatedly?"

Mencius said, "No, Heaven doesn't talk, but only expresses it by actions and things."

Zhang Wan asked, "What's it like to express it with actions and things?"

Mencius replied: "the son of heaven can recommend people to heaven, but he can't force heaven to give people the world;" A vassal can recommend a person to the emperor, but he can't force the emperor to grant the position of vassal to this person; Doctors can recommend people to governors, but they can't force governors to grant the position of doctor to a person. Once upon a time, Yao recommended Shun to Heaven, and Heaven accepted it. Shun was also publicly introduced to the people, and the people accepted it. Therefore, the sky does not speak, but only expresses it by actions and things. "

Please recommend Abel Tamata. Tian accepted the public introduction and was accepted by the old people. What happened? "

Mencius said: "Let him preside over the sacrifice, and all the gods will be happy and accepted by heaven;" He was asked to preside over the political affairs, which were well managed and the people were very satisfied. This is accepted by people. God gave it to him and the people gave it to him, so the son of heaven cannot give it to others. Shun assisted Yao in ruling the world for 28 years, not by one person's will, but by God's will. After Yao's death, Shun mourned for him for three years, and then took refuge in the south of Nanhe River, allowing Yao's son to inherit the world. However, all the princes in the world went to Shun instead of Wu's son. None of the litigants went to Yao's son, but to Shun. Singing hymns is not for Yao's son, but for Shun. So this is your destiny. In this way, Shun returned to the imperial city and ascended the position of heaven. If Shun previously occupied Yao's palace and forced Yao's son to give way, it would be usurped, not given to him by heaven. Taishi said,' What God sees comes from what we ordinary people see, and what God hears comes from what we ordinary people hear.' That's what I'm saying. "