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DONG Zhong-shu’s philosophy of history as imperial ideology(PDF)

《长安大学学报(社科版)》[ISSN:1671-6248/CN:61-1391/C]

Issue:
2018年04期
Page:
14-24
Research Field:
长安学
Publishing date:

Info

Title:
DONG Zhong-shu’s philosophy of history as imperial ideology
Author(s):
DENG Rui
School of History and Culture, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, Shaanxi, China
Keywords:
DONG Zhong-shu historical theory imperial ideology philosophy of history Roman Empire
PACS:
B234.5
DOI:
-
Abstract:
DONG Zhongshu’s Gongyang interpretation developed a set of speculative philosophy of history, the essence of which was an imperial ideology intertwined with political conditions at that time. To study DONG Zhongshu’s philosophy as an imperial ideology, this article employed literature survey method and analyzed the historical background for the origin of his philosophy from 4 aspects. This study holds that DONG’s Gongyang interpretation has 3 features: he raised a historical view subject to heavenly mandate, explaining the determining factors for historical development through a heavenpeople unity perspective, and justified the validity of imperial power as a divine will from heaven; he raised the circulative rule called “three unifications”, putting emperors at the center of history and argued that imperial powers last forever; he also raised the view of a changeable history to echo with development of political reforms. DONG’s philosophy of history, combining “three unifications” with the “grand unification” theory, was generated along with the consolidation and expansion of the imperial power of West Han Dynasty. This is especially true compared with the contemporaneous Roman Empire, which by contrast did not have a highly systemized view of history. In nature, DONG Zhongshu’s philosophy of history was an imperial ideology that served the political objectives for the period, justifying the legitimacy of imperial governance as well as paving the theoretical foundation for the development of imperial power and political reforms. 

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Last Update: 2018-10-16