Research On Pre-Qin Confucianism, Taoism, And Legalism On The Theory Of Emperor And Taoism

Almost all the pre-Qin scholars were deeming that the monarch played a decisive role in the national governance, they considered how to be a King as the key point of the reconstruction of political order, and this is the primary reason that the pre-Qin scholars pervasively focus on the Jun dao (??).Jundao is the basic principles and norms that monarch should follow,and also the core of the pre-Qin scholars thinking about how to solve the problem of governance. Jundao is not abstract but embodied in the monarch administrative activities.How to maintain the authority, how to use the system, how to choose and employ persons and how to strive for virtues constitute the main contents of the activities of monarch, the Jundao theory of pre-Qin Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism mainly revolves around these issues above. Researching through the theory of Jundao,the thinking of pre-Qin Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism is of a certain significance for the further studying on the history of pre-Qin politics and thought. So far, the academic researching on the issue is still not enough in-depth and systemic.The first chapter of this paper mainly illustrates the Jundao theory origin of pre-Qin scholars.In the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, rulers emphasized the key point of ruling a country was whether the monarch had virtue or not. The concept of Dezhi (??) forming in the early Zhou dynasty became the important thought resources of the pre-Qin scholars'thinking about the problem of political order reconstruction.In the Spring and Autumn period, the maintaining social system was damaged. Even though facing the disorders of subject killing their master and son killing the father, the scholars still considered whether the king had virtue or not is the reason of the country's vicissitude. These preliminary discussions of the monarch's administrative activities can be regarded as the prelude of the Jundao theory of the pre-Qin scholars.The chapter2,3and4make a detailed discussion about the Jundao theory of Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism.From the point of Confucianism, Confucius considered that only the monarch with virtue could make the country to be order. He claimed to use Li (?) to govern the country, emphasized that the monarch should be humane.At the same time, he affirmed the effect of punishment in the monarch's governing. Confucius'theory of Jundao laid the foundation of the theory of Jundao of pre-Qin Confucianism. The prominent feature of Da-Xue and Zhong-Yong's theory of Jundao is exploring the universe and humanity to deepen the understanding of the moral cultivation of monarch. Mencius thought that the basic purpose of political activities of the monarch was for the people. Only when the monarch can put Renzheng (??) into implementation and appoint talented people could the monarch's heart of humane be presented to the people. On the basis of inheriting the Confucian thought, Xuncius thought that the essence of the monarch was to make the people live in harmony. He stressed that the monarch should not only be humane, but also be modest, concentrated, and peaceful.From the point of Taoist, Lao Zi thought that the country could be governed only by the monarch's Wuwei (??). He stressed that the monarch should be modest and peaceful. Lao Zi's theory of Jundao laid the foundation of the theory of Jundao of pre-Qin Taoist. The Huang-Di-Si-Jing which inherited the governance theory of Lao Zi, proposed a set of complex theory about Ming (?) and Xing (?) to affirm the using of governance system in the process of monarchy goverment.Guan-Zi Si Pian thought that the ruling of the monarchs is controling their hearts essentially.Lv Shi Chun Qiu thought that the one who could foster the lives created by the god without damaging their growth was so-called the son of heaven, which formulated deeply about the nature of the monarch.From the point of Legalism, Shen Dao thought the nature of human was self-interest,monarch could make people obey only by power.Shang Yang emphasized the importance of reward and punishment in monarch governing country.He thought monarch could make people happy to be a farmer and have the courage to combat as a soldier through reward and punishment.Monarch and Subject,one article in Guan-Zi,thought the features of monarch activities were mading a plan, putting the proper people in the corresponding official position and assesssing the officials through institutions.Han Fei zi considered that monarch should have the characters of modesty and quiet and apply the way of Xun Ming Ze Shi to assess the officials.The fifth chapter summarizes and analyzes the thinking of governing country revealed by the Jundao theory of pre-Qin Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism.This paper argues that the same characteristics in all these three theories of Jundao are emphasizing the fundamental role of monarch in governing country, regarding the matter of monarch governing country the question how to be a monarch and relying the building of the political order on monarch character.By discussing the relationship between monarch and subject, pre-qin scholars thought the power of monarch and subject was integrated, the power of monarch played a leading role in the power of subject,no power in the state power system could really limit the power of monarch, and the normal run of the national power depended on the using of the monarch power.The Jundao theory of the pre-Qin Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism showed the limitation of theory in solving the problems of governing country.