Confucianism Sage And The Construction Of Social Order In Pre-Qin Peride

In Pre-Qin period, Confucianism took Sage as the core of in the issue of the reestablishment of social order because they believed that the pressing issue was not the interest division among social numbers by regular norms or systems but the foundation of the essential social value. Starting from the debate between human being and other creature, Confucianism did find the essential social value, that is, benevolence, ren 仁. Confucianism in Pre-Qin period claimed that the world under Heaven could be well administrated as well as the value of benevolence is promoted thoroughly with the influence of the sage personality.Such influence was supported by the following two arguments: first, Sage, common people share a same origination; second, human body can serve as a real media since the spiritual cultivation of Sage does nourish his body. In other words, the internal virtue can be embodied and consequent affect other persons.Of course, the elements, whcih are required for Sage to realize the reestablishment of social order, include firstly, internal virtues such as benevolence, ren 仁 and wisdom, zhi 智, and secondly political power, social position, reputation and wealth The latter objective elements were mainly discussed by Confucianism in the issue of position, wei 位. The social idea couldn't be realized until there is a perfect combination of virtue and position for Sage. However, such a combination depends on occasion and fate, which constitute the limitation of the establishment of social order.However, the justification of the establishment of social order for Confucianism in Pre-Qin period appeals to human nature, xing 性, which provides a real possibility, and the Way of Heaven, tiandao 天道,which provides ontological foundation. Thanks to his mastery of the Way of Heaven and his perfect characteristics as the greatest personal achievement, Sage does have a capacity to establish a good social order.Confucianism's doctrine on the establishment of social order based on personality, in spite of the fact that was criticized by Daoism, legalism as well as the School of Mozi, has played an active role in its restriction to autarchy in the history of China.