In the 18th century, Kant proposed the "contradiction of the two laws", revealing a philosophical concept that a pair of positive and negative propositions cannot coexist in reality. However, when we look at Chinese history, we find a typical phenomenon of "coexistence of two laws", in which two diametrically opposed logics have coexisted for a long time throughout history.
During the Shang Dynasty, the Qin state was under pressure to survive, and Shang Ying proposed the concept of "equality", which stimulated people's potential by subjecting nobles and commoners to the same assessment. However, behind this "equality" lies a high concentration of power. Shang Yang built the Qin state into a powerful centralized war machine, revealing that "equality" was only a means of mobilization, and "centralization" was the fundamental goal.
The success of the Shang Dynasty reform gave birth to the Qin Empire, but it was followed by a "cycle of chaos". While the means of equal mobilization triggered the awakening of the people, the nature of centralization led to the later anti-Qin war, and finally the fall of the Qin Empire.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty implemented the policy of "Confucianism and Legality", ostensibly pursuing Confucian moral ideals and emphasizing that the world is for the public. However, in fact, the imperial power was strengthened through the means of the Legalists, and the reform of centralized power was carried out, and the system of "Fari" was formed. This "Confucianism" policy led to social unrest and revolt, which ultimately affected the stability of the empire.
In Chinese history, "cultural China" and "dynastic China" are inextricably intertwined. In order to maintain the autocratic empire, the ruler put forward the ideal of universalization, but the nature of the autocratic power constantly denies the universality of the ideal. This has led to the empire struggling in a cycle of "super-stability, super-shock" and inability to create a new historical situation.
"Cultural China" is full of ideals and pursues "the world is for the public", while "dynastic China" is based on reality and regards "the world" as "the world of the family" in the power struggle. Every reform and change in history, prosperity and social turmoil in history stems from the contradiction of the ruler's "two laws and contradictions".
The phenomenon of "contradiction of the two laws" in Chinese history reveals the dilemma faced by rulers in the process of maintaining autocratic empires. Whether it is the Shang Dynasty reform or the Confucian law controversy, it shows a conflict between the ideal on the surface and the reality behind it. This "coexistence of the two laws" has not only affected the stability of the country, but also profoundly affected the development of Chinese history.
In the future, we should perhaps pay more attention to the "cultural China" that has been marginalized by history, draw inspiration from it, and find a governance model that can not only maintain social stability, but also achieve the ideal governance. History is a mirror that reflects the various contradictions and challenges of human society, and through in-depth excavation and understanding, we may be able to find a more appropriate path of governance in the present.
The profound heritage of Chinese history deserves our in-depth study, drawing wisdom from it, and guiding the development of contemporary society. It is hoped that this phenomenon of "contradiction of the two laws" can trigger more profound thinking and provide useful enlightenment for future development. If you are interested in this period of history, welcome to like and follow, and discuss the mysteries of history together.