Introduction: The Man Who Challenged Confucius
One day, a Confucian scholar approached Mozi (墨子, Mòzǐ) and said, “You admire Confucius, don’t you? After all, he taught morality and virtue.”
Mozi shook his head. “Confucius only cared about rituals and family loyalty. But does a starving man need a grand ceremony? Does a poor child care about ancestor worship? True morality is not about empty traditions—it is about helping people.”
Introduction: The Builders and Defenders of Mohism
Mozi was not alone in his vision of a world governed by universal love, meritocracy, and practical action. Unlike Confucianism, which was passed down through family traditions and scholarly institutions, Mohism functioned almost like a movement or an organized guild. It attracted engineers, craftsmen, military strategists, and reformers who were drawn to Mozi’s philosophy of rational problem-solving and social responsibility.
Among the key figures who helped develop and apply Mohist ideas, two stand out:
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