Research About The Political Thought Of Huai Nan Zi

Guided by the Marxism historical materialism, the paper takes the politicalthinking system—"governed by non-interference" raised by Huai Nan Zi as the studyobject, using question researching methodology, era comparing methodology and sectstudying methodology to analyze basic content, theory characteristics and status inthought history of Huai Nan Zi.The author believes that Huai Nan Zi was a collective accomplishes for newTaoism, whose writing aim was to critically summarize and inherit various schools ofthought that existed before the Western Han Dynasty on the basis of Taoism academicpoint. Therefore, it would construct its own new theoretical system and provide astrategy of running a country for the newly unified feudal country. Holding differentpolitical views, Author Liu An and his guest took Taoism naive materialism view andadvanced social conception of history as guide, implemented the philosophicalpolitics theory of balancing emperor and the people, constructed a theory whichadvocated individual consciousness, main factor's position and its influence, that wastotally different from the absolute monarchy theory raised by Dong Zhongshu. Hispolitical theory, to a huge degree, gave up the pre-Qin Taoism's spirits and pushedTaoism's rationalism to extreme. His theory on people, legal thought and militarythought were the best ones in Chinese ancient political theories from depth andbreadth, which was also the most systematic and integrated political system that canbe provided by Taoism.Huai Nan Zi designed a path not only for Western Han Dynasty, but also for thewhole Chinese feudal society. But the historical possibility is not equal to historicalinevitability. Huai Nan Zi could not create a flavor to meet the emperors' need asConfucianism did, which could better fit the emperors' weaknesses. The theory onpeople in Huai Nan Zi respected individuals with differences but equal in fact.Besides the concessions made by the book between landlords and peasants werebeyond the tolerance in feudal society. Its rationalistic spirit was totally different fromChinese traditional society which was based on relationship. Opposed to Chinese ancient society, Huai Nan Zi was a work of value rather than practical use. Its idealadvices determined to be suppressed by emperors and Confucianism that was madethe national ideology. After reaching the peak in theory and series of attacks inpolitics, Taoism turned to chase the freedom of personal immortality.The reasons above made Huai Nan Zi the most unfortunate academic work inChinese history. Until recently, research and focus paid on Huai Nan Zi is far moreless than its real importance. This paper may be regarded as an effort to promote thephilosophical position of Huai Nan Zi. By using contemporary sociology and politicstheory to solve problems, the author explores the thoughts in Huai Nan Zi, which canbe used to solve problems in modern society without class difference and eradifference. Thus the political wisdom in Huai Nan Zi can also enhance our efforts inconstructing the harmonious society and promoting the great historical practice insocialistic politics cultivation.