Mèngzǐ de zhèngzhì sīxiǎng yǒu nónghòu de mínběn sècǎi.
Mencius's political thought has a strong people-centred character.
Tips
history
The idea goes back to the line 民惟邦本 'the people are the root of the state' in the Book of Documents, and Mencius made it central to his teaching: a ruler who loses the people loses the right to rule.
usage
民本 is not democracy (民主): the ruler still rules, but is told to govern for the people's good. The usual phrase is 民本思想 'people-centred thought'.
