Confucianism originated from the burial master who presided over the funeral in ancient times. Zhou Li Tianguan said, "Confucianism gains the people by Taoism." Zheng Xuan pointed out: "Confucian, warlord Bao has six skills to teach people." Jia's Gong Yanshu said: "Under the warlord Bao, there is another official Bao, who is not the same surname as the son of heaven Bao, so he is called Confucianism." In the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Confucianism already existed, and they studied rites and music.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the slave society went to disintegration and collapse, and the society faced great transformation. The royal family declined in the Zhou dynasty, and the princes sat on the throne. The "etiquette" for maintaining the patriarchal clan system of slave owners has been greatly destroyed, and powerful governors are fighting for hegemony and the society is in turmoil. At this time, intellectuals representing the interests of all walks of life are extremely active and become an important social force. They have stepped onto the historical stage, written books and put forward solutions to practical social problems. A hundred schools of thought contend. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, represents the interests of declining slave owners and nobles, and advocates self-denial and courtesy, hoping to restore the complex etiquette order of all classes in society. His core idea is "benevolence", which has a wide meaning and touches almost every aspect of social life. Later, Mencius and Xunzi further added new connotations to Renhe Confucianism and carried it forward.
Second, be hit.
During the Qin Dynasty, China society began to enter the stage of feudal rule, and moderate Confucianism was not favored by Qin Shihuang. Moreover, in order to unify thoughts and consolidate the country, Qin Shihuang ordered the burning of books to bury Confucianism, which was almost devastating. This was a catastrophe in the cultural history of China, which stifled people's thoughts and led to the low tide of Confucianism.
Third, become orthodox.
Fortunately, the brutal rule of the Qin Dynasty was quickly overthrown, and Confucian classics were handed down. In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, it was already strong by the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In order to maintain the situation of great unity, we must establish the corresponding ideological system. So Dong Zhongshu absorbed Taoism, Legalism and other factors that are beneficial to the rule of the monarch, reformed Confucianism, and added the idea of "divine right of the monarch" and unification. Objectively speaking, this is conducive to the strengthening of feudal centralization and the consolidation of the country, as well as social stability, and then put forward the idea of "ousting a hundred schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone", from which Confucianism gradually became the dominant orthodox thought in feudal society.
Fourth, the integration of the three religions
Because of the crisis of Confucianism, Wei Jin to Sui and Tang Dynasties was a period of further transformation. Confucianism became metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties. In the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties, not only the separation of the three religions reached a climax, but also the exchange of ideas among the three religions was unprecedented. Mr. Dong also believes that the traditional activities of Confucianism, Buddhism and Buddhism-the discussion of the three religions held on the birthday of Emperor Tiandi-produced the theory of "the integration of the three religions in China and Tang Dynasty". However, because the themes of these debates are often carried out under the framework of Confucian practice, the purpose is to make the imperial dynasty "prosperous" and "the world is settled", so the three religions were even called the three religions in the Tang Dynasty. Although they were placed in the same position, at this time, they were among the three religions.
Verb (abbreviation for verb) transition period
Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties is divided into two schools, one is Zhu Cheng Neo-Confucianism, and the other is Wang Luxin's Neo-Confucianism. Zhu Cheng Neo-Confucianism sublimated the starting point of political ethics of Confucius and Mencius to the ontological height of questioning the ultimate existence of the world, which contributed to a qualitative leap of Confucianism. Zhu is a master of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties. He inherited Cheng Zhu's thoughts and built a complete and unique Zhu Theory. In the early Ming Dynasty, Neo-Confucianism became the only academic authority to select eight-part essay.
Sixth, criticize inheritance.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties were a period of inheriting and criticizing Confucianism. At this time, anti-authoritarian and anti-ignorance voices and early enlightenment thoughts appeared. During this period, with the development of commodity economy, capitalism sprouted in places where handicrafts were developed, and autocratic monarchy and feudal centralization were unprecedentedly strengthened. Huang Zongxi, Gu, Wang Fuzhi and others put forward early democratic ideas against absolute monarchy and economic ideas based on industry and commerce, which have the characteristics of the times.
Seven. Modern development
During the Reform and Reform period, Kang Youwei combined the political theory of western capitalism with traditional Confucianism to publicize the truth of the Reform and Reform. In order to create a historical foundation for the thought of reform and reduce the resistance of reform, he declared that Confucius was the forerunner of reform and advocated change, and used Confucius' authority to demonstrate the rationality of bourgeois reform and reform theory.
During the New Culture Movement, Confucianism was impacted. During the reign of Beiyang warlords, there was a countercurrent in the cultural field. In order to shake the dominant position of feudal thought, carry forward democratic science and emancipate people's minds, the radical bourgeois democrats represented by Chen Duxiu put forward the slogan of "attacking Confucius", aimed at the traditional Confucian morality represented by Confucius, and publicized the new bourgeois culture and morality.