Mo-tzu

Mo-Tzu (mô-dzŭ) or Mo Ti (mô dē), c.470 B.C.–391 B.C., Chinese philosopher. His teachings, found in The Mo Tzu, emphasize universal love—that people should love all others as they love their own families and states. He also advocated moderation in social affairs, including funeral rites. At first a rival of Confucianism, Moism vastly declined in influence after about 200 years.

Bibliography

See his basic writings, tr. by B. Watson (1963).

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Mozi

 or Mo-tzu

(born 470?, China—died 391? BC, China) Chinese philosopher. Originally a follower of Confucius, Mozi evolved a doctrine of universal love that gave rise to a religious movement called Mohism. Like Confucius, he spent much of his life traveling from one feudal state to another in search of a prince who would allow him to put his teachings into practice. The Mozi, the principal Mohist work, condemned offensive war and urged people to lead a simple life harmful to none. Mohism won a considerable body of followers, but it died out after the 2nd century BC.