Good day, everyone. Today is June 21, 2025, the 26th day of the fifth lunar month in the Year of the Snake, and also the Summer Solstice.

Welcome to the first lecture of our series on The Mencius—Tracing the Origins of Mencius.

In today’s session, I would like to guide you through a macro-level overview:

• The political and economic background of the Warring States period;

• Why Mencius developed his complete system of thought in that specific era;

• And the essence, core principles, and later influence of his ideas.

This lecture may be slightly longer, but it is crucial—it serves as the foundational framework for understanding the entire intellectual system of The Mencius.