From The Concept Of An Ideal Society To Social And Political Practice - Huang-lao Thought And Politics In The Early Han Dynasty

Huang-Lao Thought (the doctrine of the Yellow Emperor and Lao - tzu) is an important integrant of Taoism which is praised as the root of traditional Chinese culture. It is the fruit and distillation of Taoism in a certain historical period, thus occupying a significant position in the development of Chinese history and culture.To meet historical need, Huang-Lao Thought is bred in Chihsia. Based on Silk Manuscripts of Huang -Lao, and enriched by the four chapters of Kuan -tzu, the "outer" and "miscellaneous" chapters of Chuang-tzu, Wen-tzu, and Ho -kuan -tzu, it becomes the leading social ideology in the middle and late Warring States Period. Then politically reformed by Lii -shih ch'un -ch'iu, it is lifted to be the guiding political ideology in the transitional period of Qin and Han, and it also plays a great role in social and political practice in the early period of Han Dynasty. Finally, Huang - Lao Thought, pushed by Huai - nan - tzu which conducts a theoretically comprehensive and systematic summary of its development, steps into the historical climax.Huang - Lao Thought is the essence of traditional Chinese culture. It diverts orthodox Taoism from seclusionism into realism, from passivity into activity. It absorbs the strong points of other schools, and therefore its ideological system is characterized with versatility and rational brilliance. It consists of the governing philosophy that holds everything can be done through doing nothing, the methodology that emphasizes both objective laws and subjective initiative, and ethical orientation towards modesty, honesty, thrifty and benevolence.As one of the main parts of traditional Chinese culture, Huang - Lao Thought is to play an important role in keeping modern people freed from materialization, in China's modernization, and also in inspiring national spirit.