Education, courtesy and pleasure: Dong Zhongshu emphasized the importance of personnel to the rulers, and thought that "everything should be encouraged" and "it is up to you to control chaos and promote waste". As long as he tries his best to "do the right thing", he will "make great achievements in Germany and Japan", get immediate results and consolidate his ruling position. In Dong Zhongshu's view, the important duty of the monarch is to educate. He believes that benevolence, righteousness, ceremony and music are all tools for ruling the Tao, and the long-term stability of ancient sages is the effect of ritual and music education. Therefore, the responsibility of the king lies in "doing it with the will of heaven, being virtuous without punishment" and "taking education as the great task" From this, Dong Zhongshu realized the important role of education as a ruling means.
Under the guidance of putting education first in politics, Dong Zhongshu not only demands "seeking talents", but more importantly "educating teachers". He said: "A husband who wants virtue but can't read is like a husband who wants literature but can't cut jade." Imperial academy is the most important of the three ways to cultivate a scholar, so he added: "So, the greatest person to cultivate a scholar is imperial academy. The actions of scholars and sages are also the foundation of education. " He asked Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty to "rejuvenate the country and establish a teacher to support the people of the world".
He also believes that the reason why the bureaucracy was unwise at that time was improper elections. He criticized the recruitment of officials at that time and the long-term promotion methods, and suggested that "Liehou, the county magistrate and Erqianshi should choose the wise men of officials and people, and pay tribute to the imperial guards every year". Through the trial, it is convenient to "grant officials according to their materials, record their virtues, and assume their position." He believes that as long as everyone in the world is so eager for talents, they can get officials and be appointed. As long as people all over the world, it is easy to achieve the splendor of the three kings, and Yao Shun's fame can also catch up.
Promoting imperial academy and emphasizing election: Dong Zhongshu believes that these two specific measures must be unified under a guiding ideology in order to serve the politics at that time. He pointed out that disunity of thought at that time would hinder political unity. He said: "Today, teachers have different methods, people have different theories, and a hundred schools of thought contend with different meanings. It is because the above cannot be unified, the legal system has changed, and the people don't know what to keep. " Therefore, he suggested: "Those who are not in the subject and skill of the Six Arts should try not to make progress." This is the policy of "respecting Confucianism alone, ousting hundreds of schools and respecting Confucianism alone". In his view, in this way, "evil ways will stop, and then the law and discipline can be unified, the statutes can be clear, and the people know what to do." Dong Zhongshu found "Confucianism" as the superstructure most suitable for China feudal society. In the early Han Dynasty, Confucianism replaced Taoism as the guiding ideology of the whole politics, and he formulated the political rule and cultural and educational policy of "respecting Confucianism alone" for the feudal dynasties in Han Dynasty and later.
Dong Zhongshu's thoughts on the above three suggestions not only influenced the political and religious policies of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, but also influenced the political and religious policies of the Han Dynasty and later feudal dynasties.
In response to Dong Zhongshu's three suggestions, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took three measures successively:
1. Dr. Li Wujing;
2. Open Imperial College;
3. Establish an inspection system.