scholar-statesman instrumental in institutionalizing Confucianism and civil-service examinations

scholar-statesman instrumental in institutionalizing Confucianism and civil-service examinations

Dong Zhongshu (179-104 BC), born in Guangchuan (dongguzhuang village, Guangchuan, Jingxian County, Hebei Province), was a philosopher of the Western Han Dynasty and a master of Confucianism. Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty was a doctor, teaching Gongyang Chunqiu. In the first year of Yuanguang (134 BC), Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty issued an imperial edict to ask for the general plan of governing the country. In his famous "strategy for recommending talents", Dong Zhongshu combined Confucianism with the social needs at that time, absorbed the theories of other schools, and created a new ideological system with Confucianism as the core, which won the praise of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, and systematically put forward the theories of "heaven and man induction" and "great unity" And the ideas of "all those who are not in the six arts and Confucius' art should not advance at the same time" were adopted by Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, which made Confucianism the orthodox thought of Chinese society and had an influence of more than 2000 years. His studies centered on the Confucian patriarchal system, mixed with the theory of Yin Yang and five elements, and integrated the theocracy, monarchy, paternity and husband's power to form the imperial theological system.

He put forward some important Confucian theories, such as the induction between man and nature, the three cardinal guides and the five constant principles. After that, Dong Zhongshu served as Prime Minister of Liu Fei, king of Jiangdu Yi, for 10 years; in the fourth year of Yuanshuo (125 BC), he served as Prime Minister of Liu Duan, king of Jiaoxi. Four years later, he resigned and went home to write books. After that, whenever the imperial court had a major discussion, the emperor would order envoys and Ting Wei to go to the Dong family to ask for his advice, which showed that Dong Zhongshu was still respected by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

Dong Zhongshu lived through three dynasties and passed the heyday of the Western Han Dynasty. He died in 104 BC at the age of 75. After his death, he was favored by Emperor Wu and buried in Xiamaling, Chang'an.

Life of the characters

In the first year of Yuanguang (134 BC), Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu served as Prime Minister of Liu Fei, king of Jiangdu Yi, for 10 years. In the fourth year of Yuanshuo (125 BC), he served as Prime Minister of Liu Duan, king of Jiaoxi. Four years later, he resigned and went home.

Since then, when the imperial court had a big discussion about writing books at home, the envoys and Ting Wei asked about their home, which was still respected by Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. Based on Gongyang spring and Autumn Annals, Dong Zhongshu combined the religious view of heaven and the theories of Yin Yang and five elements since Zhou Dynasty, absorbed the thoughts of Legalists, Taoists and Yin Yang school, established a new ideological system, became the official ruling philosophy of Han Dynasty, and gave a more systematic answer to a series of philosophical, political, social and historical questions raised by the society at that time.

In 134 BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty issued an imperial edict to seek the general plan of governing the country. Dong Zhongshu, a Confucian scholar, systematically put forward the theory of "interaction between heaven and man", "great unity" and the proposition of "deposing hundreds of schools and commending six classics" in his famous "strategies for promoting virtuous people". Dong Zhongshu believes that "the great principle of Tao originates from heaven", and that nature and human affairs are subject to heaven's destiny. Therefore, the political order and political thought reflecting heaven's destiny should be unified. Dong Zhongshu's Confucianism greatly safeguarded the centralized rule of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty and made a temporary contribution to the stability of social politics and economy at that time.

Children are eager to learn

Dong Zhongshu's hometown Guangchuan dadongguzhuang village is in the southeast of Hengshui, adjacent to Qilu, north to Yanzhao and west to Sanjin. In 179 BC, Dong Zhongshu was born into a big landlord family with a large collection of books.

Imparting Confucianism

At the age of 30, Dong Zhongshu began to recruit a large number of students and taught them carefully. He gives lectures and hangs a curtain in class. He speaks in the curtain and students listen outside. At the same time, he often asked his favorite students, such as Lu Bu Shu, to teach them in other ways.

In this way, many people have studied with him for many years and have not even met him. Through lectures, Dong Zhongshu trained a group of talents for the Han Dynasty. Some of his students later became prime ministers of various kingdoms, and some became chief officials. Because Dong Zhongshu recruited many students and publicized Confucian classics, his reputation expanded day by day. He became a doctor in the reign of emperor Jing of Han Dynasty and was in charge of the teaching of Confucian classics.

He was a doctor when he was Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty. He once went out of the house and set up an altar to teach. His lectures were very wonderful. There were many disciples. They taught them again. Some of them even heard his name, but they didn't meet him. He was so absorbed in teaching and research that he didn't even go home for three years. His behavior, all follow the etiquette, many scholars respect him as a teacher. After Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne, Dong Zhongshu became the Prime Minister of Jiangdu state. He governed Jiangdu state mainly under the guidance of Gongyang, by exploring the causes of "natural disasters" and "the wrong operation of yin and Yang", and then he could turn off Yang Qi and release Yin Qi when he was seeking rain, so as to make it rain; when stopping rain, he could turn off Yin Qi and release Yang Qi, so as to stop the rain. In Jiangdu state, he never made mistakes in doing so. Later, he was dismissed as a doctor of Chinese medicine. Dong Zhongshu is from Guangchuan. In order to rule the spring and Autumn Annals, Xiaojing was a doctor. After three years, Dong Zhongshu didn't look at the garden. His essence was like this. It's not polite to advance or retreat. All the students are respected by their teachers. He ascended to the throne and became the Prime Minister of Jiangdu. In the spring and Autumn period, the changes of calamities and anomalies lead to the wrong line of yin and Yang. Therefore, it is the opposite of seeking rain to close all Yang and vertical all Yin. You can't do what you want to do in a country. Chinese waste is Chinese doctor.

Three questions of heaven and man

After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne, he asked people from all over the country to recommend virtuous literary talents. Dong Zhongshu was elected to participate in the inquiry. Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty asked Dong Zhongshu three times in succession, the basic content of which is the relationship between heaven and man, so it is called "three strategies of heaven and man". For the first time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty mainly asked about the fundamental principle of consolidating the rule. For the second time, Emperor Wu mainly asked about the political skills of governing the country. For the third time, he mainly asked about the interaction between heaven and man.

In the countermeasures, Dong Zhongshu elaborated the relationship between heaven and man, discussed the relationship between theocracy and monarchy, and put forward the suggestion of "deposing hundred schools and respecting Confucianism alone".

Admonish Liu Fei

After Dong Zhongshu took measures, he was sent by Emperor Wu to Liu Fei, the king of changes in Jiangdu, as the prime minister. Liu Fei was the elder brother of Emperor Wu. He was rude, unruly and a martial arts man. But because Dong Zhongshu had a high reputation at that time and was a famous Confucian in the whole country, he respected him very much. Moreover, Liu Fei compared Dong Zhongshu to Guan Zhong, who assisted Duke Huan of Qi to dominate the princes. That is to say, he hoped that Dong Zhongshu would help himself just as Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi to usurp the central government.

However, Dong Zhongshu advocated "the unification of the spring and Autumn Period". Therefore, for Liu Fei's questions, he used ancient and modern words to admonish him, pointing out that "the so-called benevolent person is benevolent who" corrects his way without seeking his interests, cultivates his reason without rushing for his achievements "(corrects the morality he pursues instead of seeking small profits, cultivates his belief without rushing to achieve results). It is the highest level of benevolence to devote ourselves to moralizing the people and greatly changing the social atmosphere! Therefore, Confucius' disciples, even children, are ashamed to mention the five tyrants, because the five tyrants cheat first and then practice benevolence and justice. It's just playing tricks, so it's not enough to be mentioned by people who really have morality. " It suggests that Liu Fei should not seek hegemony. In the sixth year of the reign of King Yi of Jiangdu, Dong Zhongshu carried out many activities such as praying for rain and stopping waterlogging.

To dismiss from office and teach

In the sixth year of Jianyuan reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (135 BC), a fire broke out in the Gaoyuan Hall of Changling and the Gaomiao Temple of Liaodong where the emperor worshiped his ancestors. Dong Zhongshu thought that this was a good opportunity to promote the interaction between heaven and man, so he insisted on drafting a memorial with his illness, which showed that God had been angry with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty by two fires. As a result, the memorial has not yet been published. As a guest, his father Yan saw the memorial. Because he was jealous of Dong Zhongshu's talent, he stole the draft of the memorial and handed it to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu was furious and decided to behead Dong Zhongshu. Later, he pitied his talent and issued an imperial edict to pardon him. However, Wang Xiang of Jiangdu was dismissed. From then on, Dong Zhongshu did not dare to talk about disasters. Instead, he started his old profession, engaged in teaching activities, and taught Gongyang Chunqiu for ten years.

stage a comeback

In the fourth year of Yuanshuo (125bc), Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Gong Sun Hong recommended Dong Zhongshu as the Prime Minister of Liu Duan, king of Jiaoxi. Liu Duan was also the elder brother of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. He was more cruel and brutal than Liu Fei. In the past, many people who had been prime ministers of other countries were killed or poisoned. Because Dong Zhongshu is a famous scholar, Liu Duan still respects him.

Resigning from office

Dong Zhongshu was always on tenterhooks and cautious, fearing that something might happen to him after a long time, so he resigned and went home four years later on the grounds of old age and illness. From then on, he ended his official career. In his later years, Dong Zhongshu didn't care about anything. He just buried himself in reading and writing.

Although he resigned from his official post, the imperial court often sent people to his home to ask him for advice when something important happened. Dong Zhongshu had a very clear view. Later, Zhang Tang collated some of the materials that he asked Dong Zhongshu into a book called "the spring and Autumn Annals". Although Dong Zhongshu was ill at home, he was still very concerned about the affairs of the court. Even before he died, he wrote a memorial to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and resolutely opposed the policy of salt and iron official camp.

Died of illness at home

In the first year of the Taichu reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (104 BC), Dong Zhongshu died of illness at home and was buried in the western suburb of Chang'an, the capital of the Western Han Dynasty. Once, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty passed through his cemetery and paid tribute to him in recognition of his contribution to the Han Dynasty. Therefore, Dong Zhongshu's cemetery is also known as Xiamaling.

Ideological achievements

Based on Gongyang spring and Autumn Annals, Dong Zhongshu combined the religious view of heaven and the theories of Yin Yang and five elements since Zhou Dynasty, absorbed the thoughts of Legalists, Taoists and Yin Yang school, established a new ideological system, became the official ruling philosophy of Han Dynasty, and gave a more systematic answer to a series of philosophical, political, social and historical questions raised by the society at that time.

Unification

In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao's learning was carried out, and the rule of inaction was carried out. With the rapid development of economy, there is a flourishing age of literature and scenery. However, in the era of emperor Jing, there was a rebellion between Wu and Chu. A united country is in danger of being divided. Dong Zhongshu, who was a doctor at the time of emperor Jing, believed that the important issue was to consolidate the centralized and unified political power and prevent the emergence of separatist regimes. Dong Zhongshu looked for the reason of unification from the Confucian classics, which he found in Gongyang Chunqiu

Chinese PinYin : Dong Zhong Shu