7. Heaven as a Standard

The concept of tian (Heaven) is often considered to be one of the key concepts in Mozi’s thought. Mozi appears to be the first ancient Chinese master to express in a more or less systematic way his vision of Heaven. At first sight, this vision is confirmed by the Opening Chapters, which are usually dated later than the Core Chapters. One of them, “Fa yi” (Standards and Norms) is commonly presented as a “summary” of the “Tian zhi” chapters. In it, Heaven is closely linked with the idea of a “standard.” Which stage in Mohist thought does this chapter represent? What are the similarities and differences with the Core Chapters? What evolution is there in the relationship between the concepts of tian and fa ? This chapter addresses these questions. Keywords: fa ; heaven; Mozi; tian