This ancient text records the teachings of Mencius, China's ya sheng, or "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. Divided into seven chapters, Mencius is composed largely of conversations between the great philosopher and the rulers he sought to guide. Sometimes mystical, sometimes poetic, these teachings are often unpredictable, with startling insights that bring the narrative to life. David Hinton's Mencius reveals for the first time the literary vibrancy of this great philosopher and the earnestness behind his faith in humanity.