Study On Culture Of Ancient Chinese Scholars In Han Dynasty On The Basis Of "Joseph Needham Problem"

About Joseph Needham Problem: In ancient Chinese civilization, it was more efficient for Chinese people to apply natural science than the Westerners from 1st century B.C to 15th century B.C.. Then, why no modern science in China since it has such magnificent civilization? There are many solutions to this question by researchers both at home and abroad, concerning social politics, economy, culture, etc.As a special social class in ancient China, ancient Chinese scholars played a special role in politics, values, personal characters, and behaviors. Though they are the carriers and communicators of the culture, ancient Chinese scholars harbor lofty political ideals and morality with strong social responsibility and dedication. However, in the recesses of their thoughts, ancient Chinese scholars are traditional in their speech and behavior: They are spiritually the sacrifice of holy people and emperors, in behavior, they are loyal slaves of dictatorial sovereign, and in personal characters, they are not independent social individual.During the Period of Spring and Autumn and Warring States, and with the decline of the hereditary system in West Zhou Dynasty, ancient Chinese scholars had a strong mobility from one country to another, delivering lectures, writing books, and promoting their own theories by becoming officials. They made their theories superior to the sovereign power, and they were independent in their theories with distinct characteristics. Meanwhile, due to the competition between the countries, there appeared lots of intellectual results, which lay a solid foundation for China's ancient science and technology. From Emperor Qin to Emperor Hanwu, many accidents, intellectual and political, had happened, making ancient Chinese scholars not so critical about things today and in the past, but realistic to participate in politics and social activities by constructively offering their suggestions about the society, politics, and science and technology, and so on so forth. They searched for the perfect combination of ideal and reality by maintaining the integrity of their personal characters. However, since Emperor Hanwu laid special emphasis on Confucianism and carried out other policies, great changes have taken place to the thoughts of ancient Chinese scholars, they began to regard the national examination for the only way to achieve their political ideals, and as a result, there was an increasing number of Confucianism believers and ancient book learners. Joseph Needham Problem describes the phenomenon in China's 2000-year history of feudal bureaucrats. Joseph thinks that China's ancient examination system is successful in selecting a large number of intelligent and well-educated people, whose management made China in order, but feudal system is in conflict with scientific spirit, for the development of science is a process of continual discovery and innovation, requiring people to be initiative and conscious of democracy and liberty. However, the requirement goes against the ethics and Confucianism in feudal system. In the meantime, emphasis is put on Confucianism, but not on science, thus ignoring making the challenge to nature. Therefore, China's feudal system directly limits and denies the appearance and development of modern science, and thus ancient Chinese scholars are also limited to this background: Confucianism first, and science and technology last. Confucian regarded the agriculture learners as the inferior, and he though they should learn to control others. Many ancient documents show that science and technology are limited and looked down upon. As Mr. Sun Zhong-shan put it,"In the feudal society, people were afraid of inventing new things and raising new theories. If they did so, they would be put to death."So, the feudal system of politics and education does a great harm to the development of science, and exerts a severe influence on the development of culture of ancient Chinese scholars.The main purpose of this dissertation is to illustrate the changes of ancient Chinese scholars in Han dynasty, the status of ancient Chinese scholars in society, politics and economy, and the influence of centralized autocratic monarchy on ancient Chinese scholars, and to provide an answer to Joseph Needham Problem.