Great Han Empire

Chapter 359 A Viewpoint on Confucian Confucianism and Governance in the Han Dynasty

Moonlight Taibai book friend asked: Why does the dispute between modern texts and ancient texts involve the fundamentals of ruling the country according to law and virtue? The reason is that some great Confucians who study ancient texts have added a lot of Huang Lao to their academics. It is helpful to govern the country, and you can use the way of governing the country that is Confucianism on the outside and Huang on the inside, and rule the country again by law, and the law of the Han Dynasty is the largest.But the great Confucians who study modern literature and classics cannot do this.

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The debate between the schools of classics, modern and ancient literature began since the Western Han Dynasty, and the struggle between them never stopped throughout the Eastern Han Dynasty.

At the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in order to win over the School of Classical Classics, Liu Xiu decided to establish a doctorate "Zuoshi Chunqiu". As a result, he was fiercely attacked by the doctors of Jinwen, and the ministers also opposed it. The doctorate "Zuoshi Chunqiu" was abolished soon.During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, the four classics such as "Zuo Zhuan", "Gu Liang", "Gu Wen Shang Shu" and "Mao Poems" were allowed to be taught publicly, but doctors were not established.That is to say, although the Eastern Han government made some concessions, it still did not recognize the study of ancient Chinese classics as the right way for landlord class intellectuals to enter the political arena.Throughout the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was no doctorate in ancient texts and classics.

After being burned by Qin Shihuang, the Confucian classics were reintroduced in the Han Dynasty, and they were divided into modern texts and ancient texts due to the different scripts used for writing.Those that were memorized by old Confucian scholars and recorded in the official script of the Han Dynasty are called "Jinwen Jing"; those that were found in private collections and Kongbi and written in the script of the Warring States period are called "Jinwen Jing". "Ancient Texts".In the Han Dynasty, the Jinwenjing was established by academic officials, and there were fourteen doctors of the Five Classics, while the ancient Wenjing was only circulated among the people.After more than 100 years of teaching and multiple copies, until the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Jinwenjing and Guwenjing at that time not only had different fonts, but also had inconsistent content. They had to be sorted out before they could be annotated.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jinwen Confucianism was still the main body of official academics. From the imperial court in Luoyang to the official schools established in prefectures and counties, the teachers were all famous Jinwen Confucian classics teachers, and the disciples they recorded were often tens of thousands. .But from the perspective of development trend, Jinwenjing is declining day by day due to its own weakness.The biggest weakness of Jinwen Confucianism is that it is delusional, and that it is cumbersome.Jinwen Jing uses prophecy and latitude to explain the scriptures, and it is full of absurd superstition and heresy. These heresies were once favored for a while, but their deceptiveness was gradually exposed, and they were gradually despised.

One of the characteristics of ancient Chinese classics is "common exegesis", "emphasis on righteousness", "not for chapters and sentences".Compared with Jinwen Confucianism, Guwen Confucianism is a simple, clear and sharp-minded academic study.Due to this characteristic, the study of ancient Chinese classics developed rapidly in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Although it did not have an academic official, it gradually became the mainstream of private learning.In terms of academics, ancient Chinese classics has made great achievements.In the Eastern Han Dynasty, great masters of classical literature and classics emerged in large numbers, such as Huan Tan, Ban Gu, Wang Chong, Jia Kui, Zhang Heng, Xu Shen, Ma Rong, Zheng Xuan and others.In terms of exegesis and annotation of ancient Chinese classics, Xu Shen, Ma Rong, and Zheng Xuan made the greatest achievements.

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At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, modern and ancient Chinese Confucianism were seriously opposed and attacked each other.The long-term confrontation between the modern and ancient schools of Confucian classics in the Han Dynasty resulted in a complex situation of factions, which attacked each other and were irreconcilable.No matter from the political or academic point of view, the unification of Confucian classics is an inevitable trend.

Zheng Xuan is a master of ancient Chinese classics.Zheng Xuan annotated the ancient classics all over the world, but he did not stick to the rules. He was able to choose the good and follow the good. He also adopted some theories of the modern classics and formed his own school, named "Zheng Xue", which became the mainstream of the classics after the Wei and Jin Dynasties.After the rise of Zheng Xue, Jinwen Confucianism has been relegated to a secondary position, and ancient Wenjing has gained the upper hand.

Since Zheng Xuan's annotated scriptures have been published, the Jinwen scriptures and ancient scriptures that were guarded by the sects before are no longer believed by people, and are gradually discarded and eliminated.Therefore, Zheng's annotation of the ancient text Fei's "Yi" became popular, while the four "Yi" of the Shi, Meng, Liangqiu, and Jing families in the modern text were abolished; The three "Shangshu" were lost; Zheng Jian's "Mao Shi Gu Xun Zhuan" became popular, and the "Poems" of Qi, Lu, and Han in the current text are not obvious; Li" did not work; Zheng's annotation of "The Analects of Confucius" became popular, and Lu and ancient "Analects of Confucius" eventually disappeared.For a while, Zheng Xuan's scriptures overwhelmed other scriptures.Since all Confucian students were from the Zheng family, Confucianism almost became the rule of Zheng Xuan, and "Zheng Xue" almost became synonymous with Confucianism, as the so-called "Confucianism changed from Zheng Jun".

Early Confucianism emphasized benevolence and righteousness, which was more reasonable and humane than the loyalty and filial piety of Confucianism.But the logic of Confucianism is problematic.At the White Horse Conference, the controversy over Tang and Wu showed that Confucianism had internal errors.Therefore, early Confucianism was actually a moderate and vague way of doing things in the world. There are many places where it is silent, and it is not a strict philosophy.But its theory is not feasible, the emperor just used it, Confucianism on the outside and law on the inside, or Confucianism on the outside and yellow (old) on the inside.The failure of Wang Mang marked the bankruptcy of early Confucianism.

Chinese feudal history from the Warring States period to the later Qin annexation and unity of the world, Confucianism and Taoism are the thoughts of ruling the country, although in the later Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Liu Che led by Dong Zhongshu advocated: "Depose all schools of thought and follow Confucianism alone" , Until the later Republic of China, Mao Zedong criticized Lin and Confucius, and until now, we all have Confucianism flowing, which shows that Confucianism has a great and far-reaching influence on China.But, having said that, most of the feudal dynasties in ancient China were "outside Confucianism and inside Huang", that is to say, they governed the country and the people according to the "Zhuangdao" (Huang is the originator of Taoism)!It can be seen that the importance of Taoism is definitely not inferior to Confucianism in its vitality!

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, representatives of classical literature and classics, such as Ma Rike, Cai Yong, Xu Xiang, Xu Shao, Xu Jing, Lu Zhi, etc., all studied Huang Lao. , rather than exclusive Confucianism.

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When Liu Bang led the army to invade the Qin State, all the generals went to rob gold and silver treasures, while Xiao He led people to rob the archives of the Qin Dynasty, so that Xiao He had mastered the population, geography, law and other information of the Qin Dynasty.After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xiao He, according to the laws of the Qin State, governed by Huang Lao's inaction, quietly obeying the law, covenant with the law and save prohibitions, and conform to the principles of the people's will, revised the Qin law and formulated the "Nine Chapter Laws". ", the legal foundation of the founding of the Western Han Dynasty was consolidated and completed.Emperor Wenwen of Han Dynasty and Emperor Han Jingdi were all examples of ruling the country according to law, and they dared not impose the monarch's personal will on top of the law.

There is a story that can quite explain how the "Government of Wenjing" governed the country according to law. "Hanshu" records ②: Once, Emperor Wenwen of the Han Dynasty passed the Zhongwei Bridge, and a person came out from under the bridge.It shocked the horse that Emperor Wen of Han was riding.So they sent someone to arrest the man and handed him over to judge Zhang Shizhi.The man explained that when he saw the horse team, he hid under the bridge, and later thought the horse team had left, so he came out.When he came out and saw that the horse team was still there, he ran away.According to the law, Zhang Shizhi sentenced this person to a fine.Emperor Wen of Han was very angry. This man startled my horse, which is considered gentle. Wouldn’t it hurt me to change to another horse?How are you just fine.Zhang Shizhi said that the law must be obeyed by the emperor and all people in the world.This is what the law stipulates, and you have to increase the punishment, so that the law cannot win the trust of the people.After thinking about it, Emperor Han Wen said that the judge was right.

Emperor Hanwen wanted to increase the punishment, but in the end he still had to act according to law.This is the manifestation of the rule of Wenjing, Huang and Lao.The law is observed by the emperor and the people of the world. As an emperor, he cannot impose his personal emotions and will on the law.But it is a pity that the good tradition of inaction and rule of law initiated by Emperor Wen, Xiao He, and Cao Can was completely destroyed by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

In 140 BC, the 16-year-old Emperor Wu of Han came to power and selected talents across the country.Dong Zhongshu, who studied "Gongyang Chunqiu Biography", wrote a letter requesting respect for Confucianism and rituals, and the promotion of enlightenment. He said: "Those who are not in the disciplines of the six arts and the skills of Confucius, all have their own way, and do not make progress." That is to say, it is not in Confucianism. The study of "Six Arts" and Confucianism are "absolutely unique".This is the source of the so-called "rejecting a hundred schools of thought and respecting Confucianism" by later generations.At that time, the dominant ruling ideology of the Han Dynasty was the Taoist Huang-Lao School, so the so-called "removal of a hundred schools of thought" was actually the end of the Taoist Huang-Lao School's rule.

The 16-year-old Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty expressed his appreciation for Dong Zhongshu's strategy.However, because the Empress Dowager Dou (the queen of Han Wendi and the grandmother of Han Wudi) who believed in Taoist Huang-Lao School was still alive at that time, the officials who followed the rule of Huang-Lao still dominated the court, so Confucian scholars were restrained from taking power.In 135 BC, Empress Dowager Dou passed away, and the 21-year-old Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took power in his hands. He truly implemented the policy of respecting Confucianism alone, and a large number of Confucian scholars were promoted. "governing the country" replaced "ruling the country by law".

"Rule the country by virtue" was expressed by the imperial court as "morality dominates punishment and assists punishment". "Penalty" (law) is regulated by clear provisions, but what is "morality"?It can be seen from the "Spring and Autumn Judgment" advocated and practiced by Dong Zhongshu.The so-called "Spring and Autumn Judgment" refers to the historical work "Spring and Autumn" written by Confucius as the basis for judging the case.This is a historical work, how can a historical book be the basis for judging a case?According to Dong Zhongshu, because this history book is based on "virtue" as the basic principle.But from the perspective of the judiciary, officials have great discretion to judge cases based on historical works. Because of corruption, officials pervert the law, and there are no rules and regulations for state governance.The result is the emergence of the "invitation from above" system, and major cases are submitted to the emperor for instructions.

With the help of a group of literati who are familiar with ancient books, it is too easy for the emperor to find any allusion that suits his heart from the history books!Therefore, the direct result of "abandoning all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone" is that the emperor is no longer subject to any laws, and the emperor's will becomes the law. .Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Dong Zhongshu bypassed the "rule of Wen Jing" law that the emperor and the people of the world abide by by "exclusively respecting Confucianism", inheriting and developing the worst tradition of rule of man in Chinese history.

Sima Guang compared Han Wudi to Qin Shihuang.In fact, compared with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Qin Shihuang also had the advantages of paying attention to the legal system and respecting private industry and commerce.Qin Shihuang also set up monuments and biographies for successful private businessmen, and never destroyed private business casually.

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I have copied a bit here and there, and it is not very smooth, so please understand.

(End of this chapter)