The Normal Standards and the Three Standards: Examining the New Situation of Mohist Religious Thought

Abstract

The chapter titled “Fa Yi” within the book Mozi delves into the religious doctrines of the Mohist belief in a higher deity, serving as the bedrock of legitimacy for the Mohist religion. In addition, the empirical principle of “San Biao,” found scattered throughout various chapters of Mozi, forms the basis for evaluating the effectiveness and utility of Mohist judgments and arguments, thus contributing to the establishment of Mohist religious thought. However, in the past, the religious significance of “Fa Yi” and “San Biao” has often been overlooked, leading to regrettable omissions. This article aims to rectify this by highlighting these two components as vital elements of Mohist religious thought.