Political Thought Between History And Reality

Song Dynasty is a glorious time in Chinese history for its creation in politics as well as in philosophy. Sima Guang, one of the most outstanding historian and statesmen in Northern Song Dynasty, summarized Chinese traditional political culture comprehensively. Ethics guides and value judgments were embodied in his historical works. When sitting on the government and starting his political career, he posited his ideas on political reform and relevant measures. In Xining period, he was the leader of the group opposed to Wang Anshi, prime minister, who held quite different political ideas on reform. In Yuanyou period, he came into power as prime minister and abolished the innovation carried out by his predecessor. However, soon after his death, quarrels about Sima Guang's merits filled the air and ever since have never ceased even till today.Now in the process of modernization of social science, it is extremely necessary to re-evaluate Sima Guang's political position and re-examine his political philosophy for the historical research and the political civilization construction. Sima Guang studied human's status and existence, human nature and the ultimate pursuit under the relationship between nature and man at the grand background. He synthesized Mencius and Xunzi's theories of human nature, put forward the opinion on "the natural good and evil mixes", unified person's reality and ideal. He also suggested that both ability and talent should be important for politics. He pursued the ideal realm of saints and regarded the saints as leaders of the society and history. He thought that social life is necessary for the existence of human, that states are the product of ethics and power, and that there are isomorphism relations between the country and family. He attached great importance to the value of the family ethics and wrote books on family virtues and rituals which had a major impact on Chinese tradition society. He thought that there existed balanced relations among monarch, officials and masses, which could maintain the stability of the country. The emperor was basically a political core but needed assistance from the officials. He affirmed the role of people, economic activities and material life. He valued government and discussed it under the monarchy. Rule by rituals was basic, which was maintained by the emperor. Rule by virtues was also indeed. Rulers were supposed to be moral persons and teach their people. He also advocated the rule by law, which was complementary. He was opposed to sticking to old ways and formed his own idea about political reform before Xining period. But he didn't support radical reform, whereas he thought that the political system in early Song should be selectively inherited and partly changed. Sima Guang and Wang Anshi's political differences aren't the contradiction between two basic political routes, but the differences about what and how to change the political systems in terms of Confucianism. His contribution lies in his summary to the Chinese traditional politics philosophy. "History as a Mirror", edited by Sima Guang, provides Chinese people with an important political norm which has been widely studied and used in political practices by later generations.Sima Guang has sought a new road to governing in the framework of monarchy, and developed the traditional political philosophy to a new level, but failed to offer a complete solution to its inherent defect. To some extent, he has done some adjustment and repair work for it.