n.
or Mengzi or Meng-tzu
Chinese Confucian text concerning government, written by Mencius .
The book maintains that the welfare of the common people comes before every other consideration. When a ruler no longer practices benevolence and righteousness, the mandate of heaven (his right to rule) is withdrawn and he should be removed. Mencius did not become a classic until the 12th century, when it was published by Zhu Xi together with Daxue , Zhongyong , and Lunyu ( Analects ) as the Four Books . See also Confucianism .