In Chinese history, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were the most splendid and star-studded eras of thought and culture. During this period, there was an unprecedented academic situation in which hundreds of schools of thought challenged each other and argued with each other, occupying an important position in the history of the development of Chinese thought. According to the records of "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi", there are 189 named companies with 4,324 works. Subsequent books such as Sui Shu·Jing Ji Zhi and Si Ku Quan Shu General Catalog recorded that there were actually thousands of "philosophical schools of thought". However, there are only ten that are widely spread, influential and famous. In summary, only 10 schools have been developed into schools.
Liu Xin of the Western Han Dynasty removed novelists from his "Qi Lue· Zhu Zi Lue" and called them "Nine Streams". The common name "Ten Schools and Nine Streams" comes from here.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the achievements of various ideological and academic schools complemented the ancient Greek civilization of the same period; the three major philosophical systems represented by Confucius, Laozi and Mozi. By the Warring States Period, a prosperous situation was formed where various schools of thought contended.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, society was in a period of great change and turmoil. The vassal states were recruiting talented people to enrich their country and strengthen their military. Economically, the promotion of iron cattle farming, productivity improvement, social and economic development, and material conditions were provided. In terms of science and technology, great progress has been made in astronomy, medicine and other science and technology. Culturally, private schools emerged, forming many scholars and schools of thought. This is the reason for the formation of contention among a hundred schools of thought. The theories of various schools of thought have a profound influence on later generations in the field of politics, thought and culture.
During this period, society underwent drastic changes, and history moved from division to unity. In response to the drastic changes in society, various schools of thought argued passionately, wrote books, and expounded their own thoughts and political opinions.
Scholars or thinkers representing various classes, strata, and political forces all attempt to explain the universe, society, and everything in accordance with the interests and requirements of their class (layer) or group, or Make a claim. They wrote books and established their theories, recruited many disciples, spoke loudly, and challenged each other. As a result, a situation of "a hundred schools of thought contending" emerged in the field of thought.
The most fundamental reason for the cultural brilliance of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period is that in the era of great social changes, thinkers from various classes and groups expressed their own opinions (i.e., the doctrines of various scholars and the family mottos of the common people) and the "contention of a hundred schools of thought" It provides a historical stage; at the same time, it also depends on the combination of multiple factors.
1. The great social changes with the collapse of etiquette and the collapse of music liberated the scholar class, which originally belonged to the lowest level of the aristocracy, from the heavy patriarchal fetters, gained an independent status in social status, and was obsessed with The thirst for talents among the princes striving for hegemony further boosted the momentum of the scholar class. The rise of scholars means the formation of a professional cultural class that is committed to "working hard" and engaging in spiritual creation. The material life and spiritual life of the Chinese nation are destined to be profoundly affected by them.
2. The fierce merger war broke the isolated and static life pattern. The scale of cultural communication is increasing day by day. The conflict, interweaving and penetration of multiple factors provide opportunities for cultural reorganization.
3. Creative spiritual labor provides the prerequisites for Taoism to "break the world apart".
4. With the loss of Emperor Zhou’s status as “the emperor”, the full-time palace cultural officials of Shishou moved to lower levels or transferred to other countries, directly promoting the rise of private scholar groups.
It is the convergence of the above conditions that has created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the spiritual development of the Chinese nation. It was under this cultural background that the magnificent "Hundred Schools of Thought" emerged.