The Analysis About The Classic Of Peace Philosophy Of Ideology

As one of the main classics of early Taoism,The Classic of Peace played a vital role at the history of Taoism,it is called as "the first scripture of Taoism".However, predecessors regarded it as a false book for a long time,so no one carried out special studies on it.Until 20th century 30's,a Japanese scholar Xiao Liu Si Qi Tai and a Chinese scholar Tang Yong Tong had written articles to figure out that The Classic of Peace was a book of the Han dynasty,which aroused the universal concern of Chinese and foreign scholars,and for a time became one of the academic theory of hot spots.Today,the research of The Classic of Peace has gone through more than 70 years of development history.Although modern scholars have still maintained a greater enthusiasm on it,and have achieved fruitful results,there are still some issues to be further deepened.As to its inadequacies,the greatest shortcoming left by predecessors is the lack of a systematic grasp of The Classic of Peace,especially they couldn't conduct an overall study in the context of Taoist culture and Taoism culture,which made them unable to give clear answers to questions about its academic context,theory qualities and inherent contradictions etc,so they had a simplistic tendency of flat exposition.In the view of the accomplishment and deficiency of the present research,this dissertation takes "The Analysis About The Classic of Peace Philosophy of Ideology" as a topic,attempting to analysis its theoretical origin,thought system,inherent contradictions and the function at the history of Taoism,promulgating early Taoism's historical origin,theory qualities, development and evolution etc,clearly revealing the spirit of the times and cultural significance which contains at the ancient Taoism.All these works hope to promote the tide of the research about The Classic of Peace which has formed and make up the weak link in this research.Also this is my intention to write this dissertation.The whole thesis consists seven parts including introduction,the other five chapters and conclusion.The first part,which is the introduction,mainly discusses the overview and deficiencies of present research,clarifies the basic ideas and research methods of the dissertation,summaries the innovation and the inadequacies of the article.The second part,which is chapter one "the Book of The Classic of Peace", discusses the relationship between The Classic of Peace and "The Taoism of Peace", the book's author,era and the Source of idea.First of all,the article describes the social background of that time,regards "The Taoism of Peace" as the real perpetrators of The Classic of Peace,thinks them must have relevance.Then,the thesis concludes the author of that book is not a person,but a group,and locates its era is in the early second century AD.Furthermore,through the analysis of the relationship between The Classic of Peace and Taoist doctrine,Confucian ethics, Yin-Yang Five Elements Theory and Mohist ideology,this dissertation excavated the ideological origin from which The Classic of Peace derived,thus reveals the all-encompassing academic character of early Taoism.The third part,which is chapter two "the Cosmology of 'Tao','Gas','God'", regards "Tao" as the highest philosophy concept in its cosmology,it is not only ontological characterization of the universe,but was interpreted as the general laws of the objective world.At the same time,The Classic of Peace absorbs the popular gasification of the Han dynasty,thinks vigor as the most original material,and evolves the universal generate model of "San Tong Gong Sheng".But,the focus of its cosmology is not to reveal the mysteries of how everything in the universe generate and change,it really wants to seek a metaphysical and theological ultimate basis for the natural world.Based on this,The Classic of Peace further strengthens the role of "God" to "Tao",makes the theory of "Tao" religious and mystical,thus constructs Taoism unique supernatural belief systems.The gods system of The Classic of Peace includes divinity,sally and ghost,it pushes ancient pantheism to an unprecedented level,and establishes the core object of the worship of Taoism for the first time.Therefore it has the beginning credit at the history of Taoism. The forth part,which is chapter three "the Religious Theological Conception of Heaven and Man".The dissertation defines the meaning of "Heaven" is not only a natural entity,but operation rules of nature.And emphasizes that we should not only follow the way of heaven,but exert our own initiative.As a religious book,The Classic of Peace does not insist these rational spirits in the end,however it eventually makes "Heaven" mystical and religious,in order to establish the absolute authority of the gods."Interaction Between Heaven and Man" is the core areas in the conception of heaven and man,it underlines the induction relationship between "Heaven" and man,the pattern of the induction is that "Heaven" controls human's behavior,expresses its will through disasters and auspicious in nature,and gives human rulers rewards and punishments.In addition,"the words of Tian Shi","Gas" and "gods in human's body" are also important ways of the induction.Furthermore, The Classic of Peace also elaborates the idea of "Cheng Fu",deepens the religious concepts of retribution of good and evil.The fifth part,which is chapter four "Life View,Cultivation Theory and Practice Theory",points out that The Classic of Peace constructs the universe,at the same time,it also put its philosophy care to the level of physics,discusses the life view of respect for people and life,the cultivation theory of charity,the practice theory of "Ai Qi,Zun Shen,Zhong Jing".Its life view follows Taoist tradition of respect for life,develops it into the theory of immortal,and brings out the complementary of Confucianism and Taoism.Its cultivation theory absorbs Confucian ethics,makes immortal and saint into one unity,thus forms a unique Taoist Bioethics.Its practice theory adheres to the principle of "Ai Qi,Zun Shen, Zhong Jing",puts forward some concrete practices,such as "Shou Yi","Nei Shi", "Cun Si","Shi Qi","Tai Xi","Fu Lu" etc,and then plays a basic role to the organic unity of "Tao" and practice.The sixth part,which is chapter five "the Political Philosophy of 'Peace Reigns Under Heaven'",indicates that The Classic of Peace has a strong desire for participating in social and political life.Among those ideas that reserved in the book, the social and political thoughts are the most detailed.On this question,The Classic of Peace follows the Taoist principle of "Shen Guo Tong Zhi",systematically expounds its political philosophy of "Wu Wei Er Zhi".The content includes that governance should follow the example of heaven,appoints sages,serves the community,and its political ideal of "Peace Reigns Under Heaven".But as a religious book,its political philosophy of"Wu Wei" also has some theological color.The seventh part,which is the conclusion,summarizes the philosophical and religious contribution and shortcomings of The Classic of Peace,emphasizes that in its cosmology,the conception of heaven and man,bioethics,social and political theory etc,there is not only the light of rational philosophy,but also expressed a kind of life spirit with humanistic and social concern.Even today it is still worthy of our exploration.But as a religious book,The Classic of Peace has achieved a preliminary unity of "Tao" and "Practice",and set a precedent for Fu Lu sectarian, Qing Xiu sectarian and Inner Study.So it is worthy of the title "the first scripture of Taoism".The inadequacy of The Classic of Peace is its rational philosophy which does not insist in the end,the doctrine and practice seems to be somewhat rough. However,this left much room for the subsequent differentiation and development of Taoism.The innovation of this dissertation lies in three aspects:Firstly,the thesis put the research of The Classic of Peace under the academic background of Han dynasty, grasps of the ideology from its status in the development of Taoism.The focus of this dissertation is not only on the ideological connotation of The Classic of Peace itself,but the deep analysis about the relationship between The Classic of Peace and traditional culture as well as Taoism of later ages.This research method of diachronic morphological helps to clarify the academic context of Taoism. Compared with monographs and the papers published which stressed in flat elaboration,the dissertation may give some inspiration and has such theory depth. Secondly,in chapter two "the Cosmology of 'Tao','Gas','God'",the dissertation concerns about the inherent contradictions between ration and divinity,around the topic of how the rational philosophy transforms to religious theology,this thesis specifically addresses the universal generate model of"Tao" and "Gas",stresses that the focus of its cosmology is not to reveal the mysteries of how everything in the universe generate and change,it really wants to seek a metaphysical and theological ultimate basis for the natural world.This induction to the subject of The Classic of Peace proves fully and localizes accurately,better grasps of the theoretical characteristics of early Taoism.Thirdly,in chapter four,the dissertation puts life view,cultivation theory and practice theory as one;this comprehension may be fresh, compared with the former research.Such as,the life view of The Classic of Peace looks "Tao" as origin and destination of life,shows respect for the natural life and ultimate concern about individual life value.The cultivation theory of The Classic of Peace stresses the importance of charity in the process of immortal,and forms a unique Taoist Bioethics.The practice theory of The Classic of Peace puts forward some concrete practices,reveals the Taoism thought of longevity.Though the combination of such three is not enough detailed,but it highlights the unique humanistic value of Taoism.Because of the limitation of my knowledge and skill,there are a lot of drawbacks in this dissertation.Firstly,the understanding of the classic needs penetrating deeply.Secondly,the mining of the impact of The Classic of Peace on Taoism of later ages is not enough,so that it may not fully highlight the status and role of The Classic of Peace which act as the first scripture of Yaoism.Here,I sincerely invite scholars and teachers to give guidance and correction.