notes
All quotations or text attributed to Mencius are taken from the superb translation of the Mencius by D.C. Lau[i], first published in 1970. One of the more difficult things to appreciate from the text, which you might get an inkling of from posts in the ‘poetry’ category, is the challenge presented by translating ancient Chinese into modern English. It certainly takes some getting used to, but Mr Lau does an excellent job of balancing the playfulness of Chinese sophism with the specifity of the language itself. As Confucian scholars have always concerned themselves with the ‘proper names’ [正名] of things, Mr Lau’s word choices show a deep, scholarly awareness of weight and nuance as they relate to the text’s purposes. My undergraduate Chinese philosophy professor introduced me to this translation, so you might say it has a special place in my heart.
If you have any questions or comments, regarding the Mencius or something I’ve written, feel free to be in touch.
- Lau, D.C. trans, Mencius, Penguin Books. London, England. 1970|↩|