In traditional China, Confucianism has always been the dominant doctrine, and even today, Confucianism still has a huge impact on our lives.
But when it comes to Confucianism, the first person who comes to mind is definitely Confucius, and Confucius has always been revered as a saint, high above, enjoying the offerings and sacrifices of countless descendants.
But in fact, Confucianism was not popular in the time of Confucius, Confucius traveled around the world, and the ideas he promoted on his own were basically rejected by the monarchs of various countries, where to go, and finally forced to return to his home country of Lu to honestly become a teacher, and it was the matter of teaching itself that made Confucius's reputation and prestige reach its peak.
Because before Confucius, there was no precedent for such private teaching, Confucius broke the academic monopoly, widely disseminated his own ideas, as long as you are sure, you can come to Confucius to study, tuition to a meat on the line, this is Confucius's famous teaching and classless thought, which was a historical precedent at that time.
Although Confucius was second to none in teaching and educating people, he really did not dare to compliment him on his propositions, the competition among countries in the Spring and Autumn Period had intensified, Confucius only wanted to return to the time of Zhou Li, everything was the way to go, such Confucianism was doomed to not move, and in fact it was true, the Qin State relied on the Law to unify the world, and the political propositions of the early Han Dynasty were also the inaction of the Taoists, and Confucianism was already marginalized at that time.
The real revival and mainstream of Confucianism was in the era of Dong Zhongshu, who single-handedly brought Confucianism back to life and became the absolute mainstream doctrine of the Han Dynasty.
Dong Zhongshu can be said to be the greatest figure of Confucianism after Confucius, without him, Confucianism could not have become the mainstream of thought in later generations, it would have been abandoned long ago, but strangely, few people recognize Dong Zhongshu's achievements, and even at every turn there are people who scold Dong Zhongshu.
The reason for Dong Zhongshu's scolding is nothing more than two, the first is to change Confucianism, Dong Zhongshu's set of Confucianism is the fusion of Confucianism and the Five Elements of Yin and Yang Theory, and the second Confucianism has defected to the ruling class and become a tool for oppressing human nature.
Dong Zhongshu was scolded, it was really wronged, he did transform Confucianism, many people in modern times often say that they want to return to Confucius's true Confucianism, but who knows what true Confucianism is.
Confucianism, after more than two thousand years of continuous changes, has long accumulated a huge treasure trove of resources, not necessarily what Confucius said is good, and future generations have constantly revised Confucian concepts in order to adapt to the development of different eras.
There is no point in returning to Confucianism in the time of Confucius, moreover, Confucius said that he was saying that he was not doing, Confucius did not write any works in his life, he was not the founder of Confucianism, but only the inheritor and promoter.
The Analects were written by the disciples according to their memories, and who can guarantee that all of them are the original taste of Confucius, and moreover, the quotation style is originally aimed at the specific environment at that time, for one person and one thing, and it must be expanded and turned into a standardized life creed, which is originally contrary to Confucius's original intention.
Without them, there would be no huge Confucian system in today's Confucianism, and those who claim that Dong Zhongshu or others are not Confucians are simply denying what they don't like, and the real Confucians are there, whether you like it or not, he is there.
The second point is that Dong Zhongshu became the tool of the ruling class dictatorship, which is not Dong Zhongshu's fault, all the emperors have engaged in autocracy, this is simply not something that Confucianism can solve, and despotism is not the fault of Confucianism, nor is it created by Confucianism.
Not only was Confucianism not an accomplice to despotism, but he also created something that the emperor feared, that is, the heavens, many things that the emperor did not do well, and the heavens wanted to punish the emperor.
This is equivalent to putting a tight spell on the emperor who has no boundaries of power, and the emperors of all dynasties have really never come out of Dong Zhongshu's bag since.
The most crucial thing is that many people scold Dong Zhongshu completely, take the bowl to eat, put down the bowl to scold the mother's attitude, Confucianism has fed a large number of readers, if dong Zhongshu had not cooperated with the imperial power in time, I am afraid that Confucianism would have been thrown into the unknown small gutter long ago.
Dong Zhongshu saved Confucianism, but unfortunately he was scolded by later generations for many years, but in any case, he was a figure and topic that the whole of Confucianism could not leave behind, without him there would be no confucian status in China today.