| Tao is one of the most significant concepts in the history of Chinese philosophy. It is firstly sublimated by Laozi, an ancient Chinese philosopher, from its finiteness to infiniteness, so that it signifies the origin of the universe. Due to its multiplicity, Tao is also developed into a multi-layered concept, such as natural law, social principle and so on. The Natural Law of Taoism and the Benevolence and Righteousness of Confucianism used to opposite with each other at their origins. With the start of lively debates of One Hundred Schools of Thought, they began to accept and absorb from each other, tending to be integrated to some extent. As a comprehensive annals, Master Lu's Spring and Autumn makes a good interpretation of Tao both in Confucianism and Taoism, forming its unique thoughts.In Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, Jingqi (means essential energy) is the embodiment of Tao, which is formless and unseen. It is the origin of the heaven and the earth, always flowing endlessly among every thing in the world. Besides having common features with Tao, Jingqi lies in a moving and interconnected state. The fluidity of Jingqi requires that all things in nature, human body and the state must be well balanced in order to obtain everlasting vitality. Interconnectedness is caused by Jingqi for its function as the medium of transmitting information between nature and man. The contradictory movements of Yin and Yang inside Jingqi make it produce the basic driving force of creation. As the essential energy of the world, Jingqi endows everything with life and desire and exerts influence upon everything with its own virtues. In short, Jingqi not only has such features as subtlety, mystery and life origin in Taoism but also owns the moral virtue of Confucianism which dominates everything between the heaven and the earth.Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals sums up three laws of Tao. Firstly, as Jingqi is the original energy, everything in the world is an interrelated system. In the natural world, all things are distributed in an orderly way or are growing in the universal relationship. In human society, the moral behavior of the monarch and his subjects is closely related to national security. Meanwhile, the ecosystem of nature and human activities also influence with each other. Secondly, cycling movement is the normal state of motion for everything in the world.The law of heaven runs the cycling movements of the moon, stars and clouds. The cycle of seasons determines the cycling movement of life in the universe.The cycle of five elements determines the rise and fall of dynasty in the circular motion. Thirdly, the growth and decline of Yin and Yang forms the law of unity of opposites. Contradictory things are constantly transforming. Establishing conflicting views can make people approach problems more thoroughly and comprehensively. To rulers, they should make better use of personnel according to their talents without taking extreme measures.In recognition of contradiction and opposition at the same time, Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals stresses more about the reconciliating state of the conflicts.In the process of implementing laws from heaven to humanity, Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals summarizes three principles of general application:Yin (following rules), Shi(fitness) and He(harmony). With the combination of Taoist's principle about doing nothing positive and Confucianist's principle about doing actively, the principle of Yin forms principles of life taking advantage of proper time and proper.occasion. Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals firstly puts forward Yin as a philosophical concept whose political purpose is to enrich the ruling theory in which the Sovereign is inferior to his subjects through combining Yin and Wei. Principles of Shi (fitness) and He(harmony) are proposed while the origin of music is being discussed in that book. They are the combined result of Taoist's theory about the Origin of Universe and Confucianist's ruling with music. Shi refer to a fitting state and He is a kind of ideal principle of the harmonious value. While dealing with issues about music, health care, law of life and ruling principle, Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals treats them as guideline.The art of healthcare in Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals closely follows its theory about its Jingqi and inherits Taoist's methods on keeping good health in order to maintain the essence of human body. The annals has also enriched Confucian Thoughts of Mencius and Xunzi on human nature and affirmed the rationality of human desire and put forward methods on healthcare, as is the theoretical development on the basis of combination of Confucianism and Taoism.The principle of Fitness runs through the art of healthcare, covering body, mind and human nature, and ultimately achieves a state of harmony in a person's body and mind.Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals regards a person's cultivation as a matter concerning about the survival of a country. The method on self-cultivation is the outcome of the integration of Confucianism and Taoism. The law of cultivation is the integrated result of Taoist thoughts on Law of Nature and Confucian thoughts about ruling through obedience. It includes a person's filial piety, humanity, righteousness, self-discipline and other noble behaviours recommended by Confucianism and Taoism. Cultivating oneself means adopting Confucian idea on study, that is to learn widely from others and to pay more attention to one's cultivation.The social utility of self-cultivation is to form the ruling order based on loyalty and filial piety, which helps achieve the ideal governance of Confucianism.Its doctrine on sovereignty requires that the monarch should follow the rule of letting things as they should be; At the same time, the ruler should be benevolent and follow wishes of the people and require government officials be consistent with their behaviors of Confucianism and Inaction Thought of Taoism combined. To treat the people, the monarch should win their trust and use power as well as kindness. As the subjects of the monarch, government officials should abide by their duties and sacrifice for justice if necessary. Besides, they must be righteous and free from corruption, setting up good examples for their rulers. This not only praises Confucian loyalists but also gives high honor to Taoist hermits. On seeing the unrealistic nature of Mohist Non-offensive, the pedantry of Confucianist propositions about ruling with humanity and the passivity of Taoist thought about superiority of weakness to strength, its military strategy is to call for establishing Yi Bing, a poweful army of righteous soldiers, stressing valor, strenghth and initiative. Yi Bing is characterized by fighting for justice and morality in order to protect and soothe people. The key for Yi Bing to win victory is that they should be virtuous and righteous and have a good mastery of a series of military tactics as well. In short, Jingqi doctrine is the foundation of Tao in Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals which is integration of Confucianism and Taoism. |
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