| Yin-yang (the two opposed principles in nature, the former means feminine and negative and the later masculine and positive) and Wu-xing (five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth) are the law of thought for Chinese. Their impact on Chinese politics, history and culture is extremely deep and great. The completion of this theory and its role that is in occurrence both begin from Dong. Yin-yang Wu-Xing is the basic theoretical support for Dong's large ideology, so explicate their ideas and understand their role, status, value and significance are very important. Therefore, it is possible to display their theoretical significance and value to make a research on them.Based on the previous studies, this paper gives an overall historical review of the development of Yin-yang and Wu-Xing, not only examine the ideas,status, role and value of Yin-yang and Wu-Xing in Dong's theoretical system, but also study the development of them in those famous scholars'thoughts in the pre-Qin times in Chinese history. This paper can be thought as a new interpretation based on a summary of Dong's Yin-yang and Wu-Xing.The ideas of Dong's Yin-yang and Wu-Xing are indivisible whole in his theoretical system, but in order to explain conveniently, this article describes Yin-yang and Wu-Xing separately.Dong Zhongshu made a few significant results based on the previous thoughts. First, it is not only to give the traditional meaning of Confucian on Yin-yang thought, but to give their status of codes of the community. The second is to improve the ontological status of Yin-yang from a gas of substance moved up to the appearance of the Way of Heaven, and made it as the origin and motivation of universe too. All of this made them have the absolute authority of the Heaven. By explaining the Yin-yang's moving line and its location in heaven, especially the specific interpretation of them, the two aspects are improved.Dong's main contribution to the Wu-xing represents in these aspects:First, he summed up the order of metal, wood, water, fire and earth, and set it as the Way of Heaven. Another aspect is that Dong made a new point of view clearly——earth is the most important one in the five elements, and made the perfect combination with the Confucian spirit. All of this made a strong evidence for demonstrating the feudal monarchy. The schema of Wu-xing also had an unprecedented expansion, in addition to including of natural, political, personnel, and historical, even the Wu-chang of the Confusion is integrated into the Schema. Basis on the Wu-xing from the Schema, ontological status are given to the Confucian concept of human relations, moral values, political systems, laws of historical development. Finally Dong get the road of historical development——Black, white, red system by using the principles which were his own creation to the area of history.Dong is also a great pioneer of working on the merging of Yin-yang and Wu-xing. This summary represents in the following aspects:First, makes Yin-yang and Wu-Xing have ontological status, even more, to be the Heaven's appearance. In a world, Yin-yang and Wu-xing have become the media between Heaven and human beings. The second is that makes a perfect combination between Yin-yang and Wu-xing, These two aspects co-constructed the Schema of Heaven with their different positions and roles in it.Finally, these works were done in the perfect forms of technology on the confluence of Yin-yang and Wu-xing. Thus, Yin-yang and Wu-xing which have the different origins previously to be integrated into a system to built up the Schema which including everything of the world, and in it Yin-yang and Wu-xing have become the highest rule of the universe.Overall, Dong wanted to make Confucian ethics, humanistic spirit and political ideals turned into the highest norms of social reality, and then the basic idea of the human nature——"Benevolence" to be expanded and enlarged to the Heaven's, so can ensure its implementation purposes by the absolute authority of the Heaven.This great creation established the ontological beliefs of Heaven in Chinese people, the impact is deep and great. It ensures the entire theoretical system of Dong's is to be established under the beliefs of Heaven. This not only makes the Schema become the Way of Heaven by integrating Ying-yang and Wu-xing into one, but also become the highest law of the universe. With this everything of the world has its basis and origin, no longer arbitrary and subjective, not only depends on the will of the saint, but there is an objectivity highest law which coverage all things of the universe.In sum, Dong's theory of Yin-yang and Wu-xing has two outstanding significant contributions: One is the creation of a "benevolence" heart for the silent heaven; the other is to establish a final rule for the clutter universe. That is:"give our mind to the Heaven and make it as the universe legislation"... |
PDF Full Text Request