Mencius was born in the state of Tsou during the Warring States period (475--221 B.C.). When he was very small, he and his mother moved next door to a graveyard, and he and the neighboring children would play at funeral rites.
孟子名軻字子輿，戰國時鄒人，小時候他的住家靠近墓地，所以他和鄰近的孩子們都學會了祭祀。