The Ethical Enlightenment Of Huizhou Clans In Ming & Qing Dynasties

Since Song and Yuan Dynasties, especially Huizhou in Ming and Qing Dynasties has developed into a typical region of Chinese feudalism clans. Living together is an important characteristic of Huizhou clans in Ming and Qing Dynasties, but the typical significance of Huizhou clans lies in the perfect and effective ethical enlightenment system. This system has poured into the continuously spiritual power for the long-term harmonious and stable development of Huizhou clans and the entire society in Ming and Qing Dynasties, which also has the important practical significance for us to construct the harmonious society today.The first chapter of this article analyzes the stimulating factors of the ethical enlightenment of Huizhou clans in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The social and historical backgrounds of Huizhou clans' emphasis on the ethical enlightenment is due to the influence of the traditional ethical enlightenment and obedience to the rules' enlightenment policy in Ming and Qing Dynasties; the intrinsic motive of Huizhou clans' emphasis on the ethical enlightenment is that the traditional Chinese culture emphasizes the multivariate harmonies, the coordination of the difference, the dispelling of the opposition and pursuing the perfect "harmony" culture; the economic basis of Huizhou clans' emphasis on the ethical enlightenment is the estates and other properties which Huizhou merchants subsidized.The second chapter introduces the system of the ethical enlightenment of Huizhou clans in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Zhu Xi Neo-Confucianism is the guiding thought of the ethical enlightenment of Huizhou clans in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Zhu Xi, who continued and developed the traditional Confucian human relation thoughts, has established the ethics, which fit the Chinese clan rank system and took the family (clan) as standard. The core viewpoint of the ethics is "the three cardinal ethical relationships of the social order and the five constant virtues" and the standards of morals and the behaviors which adapt with it such as "the piety", "the loyalty", "the chastity" and so on, which update these standards to "the reason" altitude and ask to practice them. To read the book of Zhu Xi and regard Zhu Xi's thoughts as the guiding thought is the Huizhou...