How to evaluate Dong Zhongshu, a great literary confucian in the Compilation of Confucian Literature: Zhongshu developed Confucianism to a new stage, is an important figure in the history of Confucianism, and has made great contributions to the development of Confucianism.
Dong Zhongshu, a famous philosopher during the Western Han Dynasty, experienced three emperors and witnessed the most prosperous period of the Western Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Jingdi of the Han Dynasty, he held the position of doctor in the imperial court and was never reused. After Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty ascended the throne, he was determined to develop the country, so he solicited ways to govern the country. Dong Zhongshu combined Confucianism with the social background of the time, which greatly solved the urgent needs of Emperor Wudi of Han, and thus was favored by Emperor Wudi of Han.
After this, his proposal to "depose a hundred families and respect Confucianism alone" was also adopted and promoted by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and Confucianism has since become the orthodox doctrine of feudal society, which has had a profound impact on future generations. In addition, he was also a successful educator, and he had many disciples, and under his teaching, many disciples held important positions in the imperial court, so Dong Zhongshu's social status was extremely high.
Teaching Confucianism, there are many disciples
Dong Zhongshu was born in a landlord class family in Hengshui, the family is very rich, and collected many books, so Dong Zhongshu received a relatively good education from an early age, and he himself is also very studious, especially fond of books. In the year of his establishment, he officially began his path as a teacher.
He recruited a large number of students and carefully taught them Confucian ideas and doctrines. When he lectures, he always hangs a drapery on the top of the class and does not meet the students head-on. He also often asked his closed disciples to speak for him and other students, so many people studied with him for many years but never met him. In addition to teaching in the classroom, he has also set up pulpits in other places to answer questions for those who have questions, and his behavior is strictly in accordance with etiquette, so many people respect him.
Through this method, Dong Zhongshu cultivated a large number of talents for the Western Han Dynasty, and some of his students even became the pillars of the imperial court and served the imperial court. Because of this, he gradually gained a reputation. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Emperor Wen of Han promoted him to a doctorate and was responsible for explaining scriptures.
Through the "three strategies of heaven and man", Liu Fei was later admonished
After Emperor Jing of Han succeeded to the throne, Dong Zhongshu was appointed by him as the minister of state of Jiangdu, responsible for governing the state of Jiangdu. During this period, Dong Zhongshu had a set of methods for governing the area, so he handled everything in an orderly manner. After Emperor Wu of Han succeeded to the throne, he was eager to establish a grand cause, so he aimed to recruit talents from all over the country. Because of his outstanding political achievements in Jiangduguo, he was elected to participate in this question. During this questioning, Emperor Wudi of han asked Dong Zhongshu three times in a row, asking him questions about the relationship between heaven and man, so he was called "the three strategies of heaven and man".
Dong Zhongshu was also not timid in the face of the emperor, put forward his own ideas clearly, and suggested to the emperor that "depose hundreds of families and respect Confucianism alone" was also approved by the emperor, and thus began to be implemented throughout the country. After the questioning, Emperor Wu of Han sent Dong Zhongshu to Liu Fei, the Prince of Jiangdu, to serve as minister of state. This Liu Fei was the elder brother of Emperor Wu of Han, rough and unreasonable, and a reckless man, but with his status as a Confucian scholar, he still had great respect for Dong Zhongshu. However, he hoped that Dong Zhongshu could assist him in establishing a great cause, but he did not expect that Dong Zhongshu advocated the unification of the Spring and Autumn Period, and instead of assisting him, he also advised him.
Violating the imperial power, he said that he resigned from illness and returned home
In the sixth year of the founding of Emperor Wu of Han, there was a fire in the place where the emperors sacrificed their ancestors, and Dong Zhongshu thought that this was the best opportunity to publicize the idea of heavenly induction, so he wrote a song chapter in his illness, saying that the heavens were dissatisfied with Emperor Wu of Han and began to be angry. However, before he could pass it on to the emperor, he was stolen by the traitors and handed it to Emperor Wu of Han. Emperor Wu of Han was very angry and at first decided to put him to death, but later took pity on his talents and only removed him from his official position.
After that, Dong Zhongshu was recommended as the minister of state of Liu Duan, the king of Jiaoxi, who was also the brother of Emperor Wu of Han, but he was more fierce and cruel. Also with the identity of Da Ru, Liu Rui also had more respect for him, but during that period, Dong Zhongshu was always worried and worried that his life was threatened, and after four years he resigned from illness and returned home. In this way, his career officially ended, and he returned to the academy again to teach his disciples.
In the Book of Han, it is recorded that Dong Zhongshu had the material of Wang Zuo, although Yi and Lü died in addition, Guan and Yan belonged, and the Bo zhi zuo was not enough.
Indeed, Dong Zhongshu had the talent to rule the world, but he was not entrusted by Emperor Wu of Han to use it, and could only serve as the minister of state in the fiefdoms of other princes. Fortunately, the ideological ideas he put forward were also adopted by the emperor, so that Confucianism could be carried forward and developed, and even Confucianism became the orthodox ideology of feudal society from then on, and it could be long-lasting.
Resources:
Compilation of Confucian Literature
Book of Han