An Inquiry into the Dialogue Between Mencius (孟子) and Gong Sun Chou (公孫丑) on “The Gentleman (君子) Does Not Farm Yet Eats” (不耕而食): A Reinterpretation of Mencius’s Response and Its Educational Implications

Abstract

This study examines the dialogue between Mencius (孟子) and Gong Sun Chou (公孫丑) concerning the phrase “the gentleman (君子) does not farm yet eats” (不耕而食) in Mencius with the Commentaries of Zhu Xi and the Song Neo-Confucians. Gong Sun Chou raises the question: “Why does the gentleman, who does not engage in farming, still eat without laboring for it?” Mencius replies that when a gentleman serves in a state, the ruler attains ‘prosperity, stability, and honorable dignity’ (安富尊榮), and those who follow him cultivate ‘filial piety, brotherly respect, loyalty, and trustworthiness’ (孝弟忠信). The central concern of this paper begins here: Is Mencius’s answer truly adequate to the question? Does it address the essence of Gong Sun Chou’s inquiry? To examine this, the paper first explores the underlying meaning of Gong Sun Chou’s question why a gentleman deserves material reward despite not engaging in economic activity. It then investigates in what sense Mencius’s response might be problematic in addressing this issue. Finally, drawing on the interpretation of Zhu Xi, the paper seeks an alternative understanding of Mencius’s reply and reflects on the contemporary implications of the issue in educational contexts.