Historical & Philosophical Background

1. Historical & Philosophical Background Prof. Frederick Hok-ming CHEUNG

2. “the 3 Dynasties of Antiquity” (mythical) Hsia Shang Chou Western Eastern, 770 B.C.-

3. The highly cultured Shang people were conquered ( in 1122B.C.) by rude tribesmen from western China- know as the Chou Who established the famous Chou Dynasty. Duke of Chou • (the founder’s younger brother) • regent to his nephew (a young Emperor), • proved to be a man of high principle, therefore, he was well-respected.

4. During the Cultural Revolution of modern China (around 1966-76), there was a political campaign of anti-Confucianism (“down with Confucius / Confucianism”). Specialists analyzed that one of the targets was Premier CHOU En-Lai, [who was protecting people such as Deng Xiaoping, etc., and thus was the main enemy of the “Gang of Four” (the extreme leftists)]. As his surname was the same as the Duke of CHOU (& his image, too), so both Premier Chou and the Duke of Chou were attacked by the Red Guards & the Gang of Four.

5. Nevertheless, let’s get back to the ancient history of China: The Chou conquerors justified their conquest of the Shang people by alleging that history had merely repeated itself: Many centuries earlier, the Shang founder know as T’ang the Successful had been appointed by Heaven to replace the wicked last king of the previous Dynasty (Hsia). *The doctrine of the decree of Heaven (T’ien or Ti).

6. The Chou Rulers did what was almost the only thing they could do: They parceled out their territories to vassals who were for the most part their relatives who had assisted them in the conquest. These feudal lords had to keep the peace, paid the required tribute to the king, and led their soldiers to help the king when they were needed. Therefore, a “feudal system” was established.

7. BUT, this ancient Chinese feudalism is very different from the medieval feudalism of Europe. Cf. Rushton Coulborn, ed. Feudalism in History (Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 1956) Prof. Derk Bodde (Harvard) on China Profs. Rushton Coulborn, & Joseph Strayer (Princeton) on medieval Europe.

8. At the beginning, this feudalism system of Chou China worked quite well. However, after a few generations, the situation changed. *The descendants of this blood relation became more distant! (example)

9. Nevertheless, soon the stronger feudal lords annexed the territories of their weaker neighbors, and when the emperor tried to interfere, they even resisted the emperor. Spring & Autumn Period Warring Period Political decentralization

10. Story of the last emperor of Western Chou & his concubine ( Who was beautiful but did not smile- until seeing the burning of “SOS” fire calling for help). The feudal vassals were antagonized. After his downfall, (770B.C.) his son moved to the East, established his new Capital at Loyang, thus, the beginning of the Eastern Chou Dynasty.

11. The great flourishing of ancient/traditional Chinese thought came, however, after the Capital was moved to the east (from Ch’ang-on to Loyang in 770 B.C., thus, the Eastern Chou), at the end of the Spring & Autumn Period and during the Warring Period. Confucius (551-479 B.C.)& “Hundred Schools”

12. 2 reasons for the rise of thought in this period: 1. the rapid changes underway in the structure of society, & 2. the opportune appearance of some great thinkers, such as Confucius, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, etc.

13. The feudal political institutions were disintegrating, & the social system and the way of life of the feudal aristocracy were being transformed. Service in government and the acquisition of learning, both privileges originally limited to noble families, were now opened to commoners. Therefore, thought was freed Learning was unrestricted.

14. Rulers (including the feudal lords) [intent upon self-strengthening] greatly valued the service of talented scholars. Thus, the “Golden Age” in Chinese Intellectual History. “The Period of Creativity” (from birth of Confucius [551B.C.] to the unification of the First Emperor of Ch’in [221B.C.]). Hsiao Kung-Chuan (tr. Frederick Mote), A History of Chinese Political Thought (our main reference)

15. Synthesis was at the hands of the great thinkers of this time, by whom concepts were extended and ordered. Example: The Taoist and Legalist Schools held the Yellow Emperor of antiquity in great reverence. Therefore, they drew upon earlier origins. Yet, “this work of melting down the old so as to cast from it something new is no less than an act of creation.”

16. The creativity of the pre-Ch’in age was not creation from nothing, lacking precedent & foundation. Pre-Ch’in thought, with respect to that which preceded it, was a melting of the old metal in order to cast something new from it. And with respect to the Ch’in and Han and following ages, it established the main themes & framework.

17. Periodization: • Period of Creativity or the thought of the feudal world (Spring & Autumn Period, Warring Period to the founding of the Ch’in Dynasty, 221 B.C.) • Period of Continuation & the Period of Change or the thought of authoritarian empire (221 B.C. to late Ch’ing Dynasty [1898 Reform or 1911 Revolution]) • The thought of the modern nation-state.

18. Dynasties/ pendulum or cycle:

19. *This theory of pendulum or cycle: Confucianism, Taoism & Legalism should be looked at in a “macro” way!

20. The Great Minds in Eastern Chou The Chou Dynasty was a period of great economic growth, social change, & political development. But the failure of old authority, both secular & spiritual, posed new problems in Eastern Chou. Men’s mind could wander at will and did range more freely than ever. One is struck by the parallel in time between this intellectual outburst in China & the heyday of the Greek philosophers, the Hebraic prophets, & the historical Buddha in India. “Great Minds in History” Confucius, Socrates……dialogues.

21. Some of these thinkers were first of all practical politicians. They were part of the new class of bureaucrats, produced by the spread of literacy and the needs of an increasingly complex political system. These men often wandered from state, offering their services where they would be most appreciated. These great thinkers attracted followers & thus became teachers. Their disciples gradually formed into schools of philosophy, and from these schools, the sayings of original masters, as collected & supplemented by later disciples, eventually emerged as the philosophical classics.