"spring And Autumn Annals" Philosophical Thoughts

Lushih Chunchiu is completed on the eve of Chinese unification by Qing Dynasty. It unifies Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and theories of Legalists and Military strategists and thus forms a complete theoretical system about politics, economy, philosophy, morality and military. As a large comprehensive academic work, it plays an important role in history as a connecting link between the preceding and the following. This thesis intends to make a systematic summary and an introduction of the rich philosophical thoughts of this book.First of all, the thesis puts forward that Lushih Chunchiu has established the viewpoint that "the ten thousand things are created in Taiyi", and it aims at an ideal social pattern of "the unity of man and heaven" by "modeling after the earth and heaven".Secondly, according to the idea of "the unity of man and heaven", the book puts forward the outlook on life of death and life. It holds that man should be "born royal" and "compliant and sentiment", and man should know the "division between death and life". In general, it holds an optimistic view on human life.Thirdly, the aim of the book is to search the kingcraft of running a country. According to the thought of "the peace in ancient times is based on modeling the earth and heaven", the book advocates the political ideas of "valuing the public", "reforming suited to time", "the combination of law and Confucianism" and it holds that "the king can be abolished while the Confucian principles cannot". Thus it warns the king to "run a country based on reformation".Finally, this thesis talks about the significance of Lushih Chunchiu in the philosophical history of Qin and Han Dynasty and its profound influence in the later philosophy, politics, and later literary creation and bookcraft.