Common questions

No. 墨门 / The Mohist Community is a secular philosophical community. We read the Mozi and practice his ten doctrines, but we ask no one to believe in Heaven, spirits, or anything supernatural. The chapters on 天志 and 明鬼 are read as history and used as metaphors: there is an objective standard of right, and we act as if watched. There are no rituals, no prayers, no clergy. Religious and non-religious people alike become Mohists; we do not ask about your beliefs.

Mozi (墨翟, Mo Di) lived in the fifth century BCE, early in the Warring States period. An artisan by background, linked to the state of Lu and to Tengzhou in today's Shandong, he studied Confucian teaching, then founded his own school, teaching impartial care, opposition to aggression, promotion of the worthy, and moderation. His disciplined order were the age's best siege-defense engineers; Han Fei called Confucianism and Mohism the two prominent schools. Mohism faded after the Han, was re-edited in the 1890s, and reopened by Liang Qichao and Hu Shih.

One hour. First everyone reads the week's chapter of the Mozi together. Then a short 墨辩, a debate where two sides argue one question from the reading. Next, last week's practice is reviewed with the three tests: was there precedent, was there evidence, what benefit came of it. Finally, this week's assignments (职) are handed out: who checks on whom, who handles what. Meetings happen in a member's home, a library, or a community center. No rituals, no collection plate. You come, sit down, and go home when it's over.

Yes. Everything on mohist.org, the ten doctrines, the Handbook, the weekly readings, and the full text of the Mozi, is available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English. Part of the English Mozi uses Y. P. Mei's public-domain translation; the rest is translated by the community and revised continuously. A chapter may meet in any language its members share. We keep a few key terms untranslated (鉅子, 墨辩, 职, for example), and each is glossed the first time it appears.

No. Joining 墨门, attending chapter meetings, and using everything on this site are free. There are no dues and no required donations. Mohists may give voluntarily to the 兼爱基金, the care fund (有财相分), or give part of what they save each month as a 节用捐. The amount is yours to decide, and individual figures are never published. Every receipt and expense of the fund is entered in the chapter's open books, which any member may inspect. Chapter leads, council members, and the 鉅子 are unpaid.