黃宗羲生於專制政體達到最高點的時代。早年加入復社，批評朝政與宦官的專權，後來明朝滅亡，他又從事反清復明的運動。 這樣的經歷，使他對傳統政治的反省特別深刻，《明夷待訪錄》，即是這樣的成果。黃宗羲的君臣關係論延續孟子的貴民思想。他強調「天下為主，君為客」，打破傳統的「家天下」觀念。他亦反對君臣的隸屬關係，尤其是兩漢以來的「君尊臣卑」、「君父臣子」的觀念。他的君臣關係論在在都顯示出一個「民本」的取向，而重新接續上先秦儒家的傳統。這亦是黃宗羲君臣關係論之價值所在。

　　　　　Huang Zong-xi was born when the absolute monarchy culminated in Chinese history. In his early years, as a member of “Corporation of Fu”, he criticized imperial politics and the absolute power of the eunuchs. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, he protested the newly found Qing Dynasty and attempted to restore the Ming. This experience led him to rethink traditional politics deeply. “Reflections on Ming Yie” was the outcome of this endeavor.