112/04/19112/04/19Prof. Frederick Hok-ming Prof. Frederick Hok-ming

CHEUNG CHEUNG

Historical & Philosophical Historical & Philosophical BackgroundBackground

““the 3 Dynasties of Antiquitythe 3 Dynasties of Antiquity”” (mythical)(mythical)HsiaHsia

ShangShang

ChouChouWesternWestern

Eastern, 770 B.C.-Eastern, 770 B.C.-

The highly cultured Shang people were The highly cultured Shang people were conquered ( in 1122B.C.) by rude tribesmen conquered ( in 1122B.C.) by rude tribesmen from western China- know as the Chou Who from western China- know as the Chou Who established the famous Chou Dynasty. established the famous Chou Dynasty.

Duke of ChouDuke of Chou (the founder(the founder’’s younger brother)s younger brother) regent to his nephew (a young Emperor),regent to his nephew (a young Emperor), proved to be a man of high principle, therefore, proved to be a man of high principle, therefore,

he was well-respected.he was well-respected.

During the Cultural Revolution of modern During the Cultural Revolution of modern China (around 1966-76), there was a China (around 1966-76), there was a political campaign of anti-Confucianism political campaign of anti-Confucianism ((““down with Confucius / Confucianismdown with Confucius / Confucianism””). ). Specialists analyzed that one of the targets Specialists analyzed that one of the targets was Premier CHOU En-Lai, [who was was Premier CHOU En-Lai, [who was protecting people such as Deng Xiaoping, protecting people such as Deng Xiaoping, etc., and thus was the main enemy of the etc., and thus was the main enemy of the ““Gang of FourGang of Four”” (the extreme leftists)]. As his (the extreme leftists)]. As his surname was the same as the Duke of CHOU surname was the same as the Duke of CHOU (& his image, too), so both Premier Chou and (& his image, too), so both Premier Chou and the Duke of Chou were attacked by the Red the Duke of Chou were attacked by the Red Guards & the Gang of Four. Guards & the Gang of Four.

Nevertheless, letNevertheless, let’’s get back to the ancient s get back to the ancient history of China: history of China:

The Chou conquerors justified their conquest The Chou conquerors justified their conquest of the Shang people by alleging that history of the Shang people by alleging that history had merely repeated itself: had merely repeated itself:

Many centuries earlier, the Shang founder Many centuries earlier, the Shang founder know as Tknow as T’’ang the Successful had been ang the Successful had been appointed by Heaven to replace the wicked appointed by Heaven to replace the wicked last king of the previous Dynasty (Hsia).last king of the previous Dynasty (Hsia).

*The doctrine of the decree of Heaven (T*The doctrine of the decree of Heaven (T’’ien ien or Ti). or Ti).

The Chou Rulers did what was almost The Chou Rulers did what was almost the only thing they could do:the only thing they could do:

They parceled out their territories to They parceled out their territories to vassals who were for the most part vassals who were for the most part their relatives who had assisted them their relatives who had assisted them in the conquest. These feudal lords in the conquest. These feudal lords had to keep the peace, paid the had to keep the peace, paid the required tribute to the king, and led required tribute to the king, and led their soldiers to help the king when their soldiers to help the king when they were needed. Therefore, a they were needed. Therefore, a ““feudal systemfeudal system”” was established. was established.

BUT, this ancient Chinese feudalism is BUT, this ancient Chinese feudalism is veryvery different different from the medieval from the medieval feudalism of Europe.feudalism of Europe.

Cf. Rushton Coulborn, ed. Feudalism in Cf. Rushton Coulborn, ed. Feudalism in History (Princeton: Princeton U. Press, History (Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 1956)1956)

Prof. Derk Bodde (Harvard) on ChinaProf. Derk Bodde (Harvard) on ChinaProfs. Rushton Coulborn, & Joseph Strayer Profs. Rushton Coulborn, & Joseph Strayer

(Princeton) on medieval Europe. (Princeton) on medieval Europe.

At the beginning, this feudalism At the beginning, this feudalism system of Chou China worked quite system of Chou China worked quite well. well.

However, after a few generations, the However, after a few generations, the situation changed.situation changed.

*The descendants of this *The descendants of this blood relationblood relation became more became more distantdistant!!

(example)(example)

Nevertheless, soon the stronger feudal Nevertheless, soon the stronger feudal lords annexed the territories of their lords annexed the territories of their weaker neighbors, and when the weaker neighbors, and when the emperor tried to interfere, they even emperor tried to interfere, they even resisted the emperor.resisted the emperor.

Spring & Autumn PeriodSpring & Autumn Period

Warring PeriodWarring Period

Political decentralizationPolitical decentralization

Story of the last emperor of Western Story of the last emperor of Western Chou & his concubine ( Who was Chou & his concubine ( Who was beautiful but did not smile- until beautiful but did not smile- until seeing the burning of seeing the burning of ““SOSSOS”” fire calling fire calling for help).for help).

The feudal vassals were antagonized.The feudal vassals were antagonized.

After his downfall, (770B.C.) his son After his downfall, (770B.C.) his son moved to the East, established his moved to the East, established his new Capital at Loyang, thus, the new Capital at Loyang, thus, the beginning of the Eastern Chou beginning of the Eastern Chou Dynasty.Dynasty.

The great flourishing of The great flourishing of ancient/traditional Chinese thought ancient/traditional Chinese thought came, however, after the Capital was came, however, after the Capital was moved to the east (from Chmoved to the east (from Ch’’ang-on to ang-on to Loyang in 770 B.C., thus, the Eastern Loyang in 770 B.C., thus, the Eastern Chou), at the end of the Spring & Chou), at the end of the Spring & Autumn Period and during the Warring Autumn Period and during the Warring Period.Period.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.)& Confucius (551-479 B.C.)& ““Hundred Hundred SchoolsSchools””

2 reasons for the rise of thought in 2 reasons for the rise of thought in this period:this period:

1. the rapid changes underway in the 1. the rapid changes underway in the structure of society, &structure of society, &

2. the opportune appearance of some 2. the opportune appearance of some great thinkers, such as Confucius, great thinkers, such as Confucius, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, etc.Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, etc.

The feudal political institutions were The feudal political institutions were disintegrating, & the social system and the disintegrating, & the social system and the way of life of the feudal aristocracy were way of life of the feudal aristocracy were being transformed.being transformed.

Service in government and the acquisition of Service in government and the acquisition of learning, both privileges originally limited to learning, both privileges originally limited to noble families, were now opened to noble families, were now opened to commoners.commoners.

Therefore, thought was freed Learning was Therefore, thought was freed Learning was unrestricted.unrestricted.

Rulers (including the feudal lords) [intent Rulers (including the feudal lords) [intent upon self-strengthening] greatly valued upon self-strengthening] greatly valued the service of talented scholars.the service of talented scholars.

Thus, the Thus, the ““Golden AgeGolden Age”” in Chinese in Chinese Intellectual History.Intellectual History.

““The Period of CreativityThe Period of Creativity”” (from birth of (from birth of Confucius [551B.C.] to the unification of Confucius [551B.C.] to the unification of the First Emperor of Chthe First Emperor of Ch’’in [221B.C.]).in [221B.C.]).

Hsiao Kung-Chuan (tr. Frederick Mote), A Hsiao Kung-Chuan (tr. Frederick Mote), A History of Chinese Political Thought (our History of Chinese Political Thought (our main reference)main reference)

Synthesis was at the hands of the great Synthesis was at the hands of the great thinkers of this time, by whom thinkers of this time, by whom concepts were extended and ordered.concepts were extended and ordered.

Example: The Taoist and Legalist Schools Example: The Taoist and Legalist Schools held the Yellow Emperor of antiquity in held the Yellow Emperor of antiquity in great reverence. Therefore, they drew great reverence. Therefore, they drew upon earlier origins.upon earlier origins.

Yet, Yet, ““this work of melting down the old so this work of melting down the old so as to cast from it something new is no as to cast from it something new is no less than an act of creation.less than an act of creation.””

The creativity of the pre-ChThe creativity of the pre-Ch’’in age was in age was not creation from nothing, lacking not creation from nothing, lacking precedent & foundation.precedent & foundation.

Pre-ChPre-Ch’’in thought, with respect to that in thought, with respect to that which preceded it, was a melting of which preceded it, was a melting of the old metal in order to cast the old metal in order to cast something new from it. And with something new from it. And with respect to the Chrespect to the Ch’’in and Han and in and Han and following ages, it established the main following ages, it established the main themes & framework. themes & framework.

Periodization:Periodization:1.1. Period of Creativity or the thought of Period of Creativity or the thought of

the feudal world (Spring & Autumn the feudal world (Spring & Autumn Period, Warring Period to the founding Period, Warring Period to the founding of the Chof the Ch’’in Dynasty, 221 B.C.)in Dynasty, 221 B.C.)

2.2. Period of Continuation & the Period of Period of Continuation & the Period of Change or the thought of authoritarian Change or the thought of authoritarian empire (221 B.C. to late Chempire (221 B.C. to late Ch ’’ing ing Dynasty [1898 Reform or 1911 Dynasty [1898 Reform or 1911 Revolution])Revolution])

3.3. The thought of the modern nation-The thought of the modern nation-state.state.

Dynasties/ pendulum or Dynasties/ pendulum or cycle:cycle:

ChouChou Confucianism & Hundred Confucianism & Hundred SchoolsSchools

Warring States Warring States TaoismTaoism

ChCh’’in in Legalism Legalism

Han Han Confucianism Confucianism

(towards the end of (towards the end of Eastern/Later Han)Eastern/Later Han)

Wei-Chin N. & S. Wei-Chin N. & S. Dynasties Dynasties

Taoism Taoism

Sui Sui LegalismLegalism

TT’’ang & Sung ang & Sung Confucianism + Taoism Confucianism + Taoism + Buddhism + Buddhism

MingMing Legalism Legalism

*This theory of pendulum or cycle:*This theory of pendulum or cycle:

Confucianism, Taoism & Legalism Confucianism, Taoism & Legalism should be looked at in a should be looked at in a ““macromacro”” way! way!

The Great Minds in Eastern The Great Minds in Eastern ChouChou

The Chou Dynasty was a period of great The Chou Dynasty was a period of great economic growth, social change, & political economic growth, social change, & political development. But the failure of old authority, development. But the failure of old authority, both secular & spiritual, posed new problems both secular & spiritual, posed new problems in Eastern Chou. Menin Eastern Chou. Men’’s mind could wander at s mind could wander at will and did range more freely than ever.will and did range more freely than ever.

One is struck by the parallel in time between One is struck by the parallel in time between this intellectual outburst in China & the this intellectual outburst in China & the heyday of the Greek philosophers, the heyday of the Greek philosophers, the Hebraic prophets, & the historical Buddha in Hebraic prophets, & the historical Buddha in India. India. ““Great Minds in HistoryGreat Minds in History”” Confucius, Confucius, SocratesSocrates…………dialogues.dialogues.

Some of these thinkers were first of all practical Some of these thinkers were first of all practical politicians. They were part of the new class of politicians. They were part of the new class of bureaucrats, produced by the spread of literacy and bureaucrats, produced by the spread of literacy and the needs of an increasingly complex political the needs of an increasingly complex political system. These men often wandered from state, system. These men often wandered from state, offering their services where they would be most offering their services where they would be most appreciated.appreciated.

These great thinkers attracted followers & thus These great thinkers attracted followers & thus became teachers. Their disciples gradually formed became teachers. Their disciples gradually formed into schools of philosophy, and from these schools, into schools of philosophy, and from these schools, the sayings of original masters, as collected & the sayings of original masters, as collected & supplemented by later disciples, eventually supplemented by later disciples, eventually emerged as the philosophical classics. emerged as the philosophical classics.