"I am old, and people are old" is the traditional virtue of China culture. What is the origin?

"I am old, and people are old" is a traditional virtue of China culture, which comes from Mencius' Mencius Hui Liang Wang Shang. It is Mencius' yearning for his ideal society.

Mencius was a very filial person because he was influenced by his mother all his life. Therefore, Mencius agreed with Confucius' thought very much and was regarded as the promoter of Confucius' thought. There are related records in the world of great harmony described by Confucius: an old friend is both a relative and an only child, which makes the old have an end, the young have a use, and the widowed and lonely have a support. It is said that people are not only good for their relatives, but also good for their children. Old people have a home to return to, young people have a place to use, young people have their own specialties, and elderly people with physical disabilities can support them.

Confucius' thought of great harmony influenced Mencius, so Mencius put forward a meaningful extension of Confucius' thought when describing his ideal society. Confucius said that we can't be lonely, and Mencius said that we are old and people are old. Confucius only suggested that we should not only be kind to our relatives, but Mencius took this idea a step further and treated other elderly people like our elders. The same method should also be used for young children and young people.

Although Confucius and Mencius were people a long time ago, their thoughts were beyond the times. At least for now, Confucius' thought of great harmony has indeed been realized in many aspects. As far as the society we live in now is concerned, the elderly have a place to provide for the elderly, the children have a bright school, and the young and middle-aged have their own duties. Young people also have their dreams and specialties, and even the lonely, lonely and disabled have been comforted by society.

Although Mencius' expanded realm has not been fully realized, I believe it will be realized one day.