Mozi(476 or 480 BC-390 or 420 BC), named Zhai, was born in the State of Song in the late Spring and Autumn Period and the early Warring States Period. He was an ancient Chinese thinker, educator, scientist, strategist, founder and main representative of the Mohist School.
Mohism is a school that advocates benevolent politics, which had a great influence in the pre- Qin period. It is also called“ outstanding learning” together with Confucianism. Mozi, the founder of the Mohist school, put forward such views as“ universal love”“ non- aggression”“ respect for virtue”“ respect for identity”“ heaven’s will”“ enlightening ghost”“ non- predestination”“ non- music”“ funeral- controlling” and“ frugality”. Mozi believed that the most suitable scheme among the ten propositions should be selected according to different situations in different countries.
Mozi advocated meritocracy and opposed cronyism. He believed that there was no everlasting nobleness or lowliness. He maintained that the hungry got food, the cold got clothes, and the laboring got rest and that the monarch and his ministers, the father and the son, and brothers should love each other on the basis of equality, and love others just as they loved themselves.
Mozi actively publicized his own theory and formed the powerful Mohist School with hundreds of disciples. After the death of Mozi, according to the historical materials of Mozi’s life and deeds, his disciples collected his quotations and compiled the book Mozi. Mozi has a wide range of contents, including politics, military affairs, philosophy, ethics, logic, science and technology, and is an important historical resource for studying Mozi and his later studies. This book is divided into two parts: one records Mozi’s words and deeds and elaborates Mozi’s thoughts, which mainly reflects the early thoughts of the Mohist School; the other focuses on the epistemology and logical thought of the Mohist school, which reflects the later thoughts of the Mohist School.