Editorial Reviews  
Book Description  
This ancient text records the teachings of Mencius, who lived during the fourth century B.C.E. and studied with the grandson of Confucius. He is China's ya sheng, or second originary sage, having contributed the profound inner dimensions of the human being to the spiritual cosmology in Confucianism. This volume is the second in a series of new translations presenting the four central masterworks of ancient Chinese thought. Hinton's translations are inviting and immensely readable, applying a consistency to key terms and structural links to this vital canon. Other titles in the series include Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters (1997), The Analects (1998), and Tao Te Ching (1999). 

Synopsis  
This ancient text records the teachings of Mencius, China's "second sage". A philosopher who worked in the fourth century B.C., Mencius studied with the grandson of Confucius and is credited with the development of orthodox Confucianism. Sometimes mystical, sometimes poetic, his teachings are often unpredictable with startling insights that bring the narrative to life.