Mencius’ mother

More than 2,000 years ago, there lived a famous Chinese philosopher by the name of Mencius, who was considered second to Confucius in greatness.

Mencius’ mother raised him on her own. Initially, they lived near a cemetery, where the boy was entertained by the funeral processions he saw.

He and his playmates began to imitate the weeping mourners and musicians. Seeing this, his mother decided to move residence—with her son in tow.

This time, mother and son lived near a market, where vendors would call out to passersby. Mencius began imitating the shouting and haggling—so, his mother decided to move again!

Impact

When they lived near a school, the atmosphere had a favorable impact on the young boy, who began to take interest in reading and learning. Mencius’ mother then sent him to a private tutor.

This series of events led to the development of the Chinese idiom, “Mencius’ mother, three moves,” which refers to the importance of finding the right environment for young people to grow up in. Parents have to carefully choose the environment and situation their children are exposed to.

Hopefully, parents and guardians will follow the example set by Mencius’ mother!