Jin Xin II · Passage 02 / 38 · 孟子 7B.2
Mencius 7B.2: in the Spring and Autumn there
Mencius does not deny that some wars are better than others; he denies that rival states struggling within the same contest of domination can easily claim.
孟子曰：「《春秋》無義戰，彼善於此，則有之矣。征者，上伐下也，敵國不相征也。」
Mencius said, 'In the "Spring and Autumn" there are no righteous wars. Instances indeed there are of one war better than another. "Correction" is when the supreme authority punishes its subjects by force of arms. Hostile States do not correct one another.'
Priority note
A human-edited reading layer
Central question
Why does Mencius say that in the Spring and Autumn there are no righteous wars?
Direct answer
Because within the competitive structure of rival states, each side is still seeking power, and the claim of righteousness easily becomes self-packaging. Mencius allows relative superiority, but refuses to elevate that too quickly into full justice.
First principle
A party being somewhat better than its rival does not yet mean it is righteous. Relative superiority is not identical with moral legitimacy.
Why it matters
This passage serves searches around just war, Mencius, and the difference between relatively better and truly right. It is a foundational restraint on war rhetoric.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 2 of 38 in Jin Xin II. The cleanest entry point is "In the "Spring and Autumn" there are no…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about knowing words, knowing destiny, and the completion of cultivation and can be read alongside Humane government / kingly way, Flood-like qi.
Broader search routes
If you came here with a wider question, start from the right hub page
Humane government: political order begins with livelihood
If your real query is broader than one citation, start from the theme page and use this passage as proof text.
Open humane government / kingly wayWho is Mencius?
If you first need the person, the aliases, and why he matters, start from the about page.
Open About MenciusMencius quotes and sayings
If you arrived through a famous line, start from the quotes hub and then return to the exact passage.
Open Mencius quotesMencius full text and works of Mencius
If you need the book structure, the works of Mencius, or where to read the text, start from the full-text hub.
Open the full-text hubBook context
Jin Xin II treats knowing words, knowing destiny, and the judgments proper to mature cultivation together.
Related principles
Citation note
Do not read it as absolute pacifism. Mencius is not saying every war is equal, but that the title of righteousness is rare under hegemonic rivalry and must not be casually assigned.