On Zhang Shizhao's Political Philosophy

Zhang Shizhao lived in five important historical periods, including the late Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, the Northern government, the Kuomintang government, and the People's Republic of China. His ideas are unique. Firstly, this paper defines Zhang Shizhao's political philosophy as a political principle so that we won't confuse the concept of political philosophy. Secondly, this paper analyzes theoretical origin of Zhang Shizhao's political philosophy according to Chinese and Western culture. This paper analyzes Chinese and Western culture affects Zhang Shizhao's political philosophy from three aspects of"utilitarianism","China people-oriented thoughts and Western democracy"and"harmonious but different". In fact, Zhang Shizhao's political philosophy is an evolving and changing process. According to the change of current situation, Zhang Shizhao had a series of exploration around democracy. The first was to introduce the British model of democracy to China, trying to establish a democratic republican government. Since then, the British political model of democracy were hindered in practice, he had to discuss how to implement the issue of democratic politics, and proposed the idea of"establish a nation by compromise". Zhang Shizhao had only done a theoretical discussion on"establish a nation by compromise", and done less discussion on the actual use of it. Finally, as the First World War happened, Zhang Shizhao had a question on Western culture, and considered that the material culture of Western industrial countries was not suitable for China. Zhang Shizhao considered that we should find a political foundation from the Chinese traditional culture. Thus, he proposed"establish a nation by agriculture". At the same time, he advocated the revival of Ritual. Although Zhang Shizhao's Political philosophy had not been paid enough attention by the people at that time, it is easy to see that Zhang Shizhao's Political philosophy has the political reference in contemporary society through the interpretation of this paper.