Dong Zhongshu was a thinker, philosopher, politician and educator in Han Dynasty. Han nationality, Han nationality from Guang Chuan County. In the first year of Yuanguang, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, Liu Fei, the king of Jiangdu Yi, was appointed Prime Minister, 10; In the fourth year of Yuanshuo, he served as the prime minister of Liu Duan, the king of Jiaoxi, and resigned and went home four years later. Since then, writing a book at home, every time the court discussed it, the messenger and Tingwei asked about their family, which is still respected by Emperor Wu. Based on Yang Gong's Spring and Autumn Period, Dong Zhongshu combined the religious view of heaven with the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements since the Zhou Dynasty, absorbed the thoughts of Legalists, Taoists and Yin-Yang School, established a new ideological system, and became the official ruling philosophy of the Han Dynasty, giving systematic answers to a series of philosophical, political, social and historical questions raised by the society at that time.
In BC 134, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty issued a letter to seek a general plan for governing the country. Dong Zhongshu, a Confucian scholar, systematically put forward the ideas of "the connection between heaven and man", "great unification" and "ousting a hundred schools of thought and respecting the Six Classics alone". Dong Zhongshu believes that the greatness of Tao comes from heaven, and both nature and personnel obey destiny, so the political order and political thought reflecting destiny should be unified. Dong Zhongshu's Confucianism greatly maintained the centralized rule of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty and made a temporary contribution to the social, political and economic stability at that time. In the long run, his thoughts of "harmony between man and nature" and "divine right of monarchy" almost influenced the whole feudal society, and they were carried out throughout the dynasties until the end of the monarchy in the Revolution of 1911. The ousting of a hundred schools of thought and the exclusive respect for Confucianism had a far-reaching impact on China culture. Before the New Culture Movement, the cultural thought represented by Confucianism was the mainstream culture in China. The idea of great unification still affects the whole Chinese nation, which lasts for a long time from generation to generation, because it is the bond of unity and consolidation of the Chinese nation.
Dong Zhongshu experienced the rule of Wenjing and the prosperity of Hanwu in his life, which was the heyday of the Western Han Dynasty, with political stability, economic prosperity, unprecedented national strength and people living and working in peace and contentment. Ideologically and culturally, the early Han society was also relaxed and comfortable. Filial piety Hui Di in addition to the law of holding books, the official of writing books; When Emperor Wudi was in power, he opened the way to present books. Many Confucian classics hidden by Qin Shihuang's burning books and burying Confucianism reappeared in front of the world; Many Confucian scholars who retreated to Noda gradually stepped out of the mountains. People are at peace, and scholars are willing to study, so people who give lectures and know the classics get together to revive Confucianism and revive the Confucian camp, and suddenly become great. In order to apply what you have learned, please the rulers, explain what you have learned and draw pictures. A family has a family style and a teacher has statutes. It is various and clear. It is in this context of social stability and academic freedom that Dong Zhongshu embarked on the road of official learning.
Guang Chuan, Dong Zhongshu's hometown, is located in the southeast, adjacent to Qilu, with Yan State in the north and Sanjin in the west. Since ancient times, there have been many Confucian scholars in Qilu, alchemists in Yan and legalists in Sanjin. Zhongshu grew up under the influence of various cultures, which is not unrelated to the formation of a multi-connotation ideological system in the future. According to historical records, in the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, there were eight people who studied the Five Classics: Shen Peigong of Lu, Yuan Gusheng of Qi and Han Taifu of Yan; Deliver books for Jinan; After the ceremony, it is a high school student of Lu; Chuanyi, then Zichuan and Liu Xin, several people can jointly rule a book of songs. Compared with those experts, Dong Zhongshu can be said to stand out from the crowd, and he is at the height of his day, posing as a versatile scholar without shame.
Dong Zhongshu's thought is a philosophy decided by the Western Han Dynasty after summing up historical experience and decades of choice, which has played a positive role in consolidating the ruling order of the Western Han Dynasty and maintaining the unified situation. Dong Zhongshu is not only the founder of authentic theology, but also a famous Confucian scholar.