The Book of Master Mo - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Book of Master Mo (墨子), also known as Mozi or Mo Tzu, stands as one of ancient China's most influential yet historically overlooked philosophical texts, compiled between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. This comprehensive work encompasses the teachings of Mo Di (墨翟) and his followers, presenting a remarkably pragmatic and utilitarian philosophical system that challenged the dominant Confucian orthodoxy of its time.
First referenced in early Han dynasty texts around 100 BCE, the book emerged during the tumultuous Warring States period (475-221 BCE), when competing schools of thought sought solutions to China's social and political upheaval. The text's survival is itself a testament to its significance, as it remains the only substantial source documenting Mohist philosophy, though scholars believe it represents only a fraction of the original Mohist corpus.
The Book of Master Mo presents revolutionary ideas that were startlingly modern for their time, including universal love (兼愛), meritocracy, and the condemnation of offensive warfare. The text is organized into 71 chapters across 18 books, featuring logical arguments, technical treatises, and ethical dissertations that showcase the Mohists' unique blend of philosophical rigor and practical engineering expertise. Particularly intriguing are the text's detailed discussions of logic, optics, and mechanics, suggesting that the Mohists were not only philosophers but also accomplished scientists and mathematicians.
The work's influence waned after the Qin dynasty but has experienced a remarkable renaissance in modern times, as scholars recognize its relevance to contemporary debates on utilitarianism, social justice, and technological ethics. The text's advocacy for peace, economic efficiency, and merit-based governance resonates strongly with modern sensibilities, while its sophisticated logical arguments continue to intrigue philosophers and historians. Perhaps most compelling is how the text challenges our understanding of ancient Chinese thought, suggesting a more diverse and technically sophisticated intellectual landscape than traditionally assumed. The enduring question remains: how might world history have differed had Mohism, rather than Confucianism, become China's dominant philosophical tradition?