Mozi (book)

The Mozi (墨子), also known as The Works of Mozi, is a foundational text of Mohism, a major philosophical, social, and political school of thought in ancient China that flourished during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Attributed to Mozi (Master Mo), whose personal name was Di (翟), and his disciples, the Mozi presents a comprehensive system of ethics, logic, epistemology, political philosophy, and military strategy.

The book is not a unified work written by a single author at a single time. Instead, it is a compilation of essays, dialogues, and records that likely accumulated over several generations of Mohist thinkers. The extant version of the Mozi is divided into 71 chapters, although some chapters are incomplete or considered spurious.

Key concepts and doctrines discussed in the Mozi include:

• Universal Love (兼愛, jian'ai): The central tenet of Mohist ethics, advocating for impartial and equal care for all people, regardless of social standing or relationship.
• Impartiality (兼, jian): Connected to universal love, this principle emphasizes the importance of fairness and treating everyone equally, without favoritism.
• Condemnation of Offensive Warfare (非攻, fei gong): A strong opposition to aggressive warfare, believing it to be wasteful, destructive, and morally wrong. Mohists were skilled in defensive strategies and advocated for peaceful conflict resolution.
• Exalting the Worthy (尚賢, shang xian): The promotion of individuals based on merit and ability, rather than birth or social status. Mohists believed in selecting capable leaders and officials to govern effectively.
• Frugality (節用, jie yong): An emphasis on simple living, resource conservation, and avoiding extravagance and waste.
• Condemnation of Music (非樂, fei yue): A controversial doctrine that criticized elaborate music and rituals as being unproductive and wasteful of resources.
• Will of Heaven (天志, tian zhi): Belief in a benevolent and impartial Heaven that rewards good deeds and punishes evil ones. This served as a moral foundation for Mohist ethics.
• Demonstrating the Existence of Ghosts (明鬼, ming gui): The advocacy for the belief in spirits and ghosts as a means of promoting moral behavior and discouraging wrongdoing.

The Mozi offers a unique and influential perspective on ancient Chinese thought. While Mohism eventually declined as a major school, its ideas have had a lasting impact on Chinese culture and philosophy, particularly its emphasis on social justice, impartial love, and practical utilitarianism. The book continues to be studied by scholars interested in ancient Chinese history, philosophy, and political thought.