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The Comparison Of Political Thought Of Mohism And LvShiChunQiu

Posted on:2012-12-03Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:H LiuFull Text:PDF
GTID:2236330371963635Subject:Chinese philosophy
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During the period of pre-Qin scholars, Mohism and Confucianism were two remarkable schools. The book“Mohism”is written by Mohism and other scholars of younger age, which is the collection of Mohist works, and also the primary basis for us to comprehend Mohism today. The book“LvshiChunqiu”is part of the essay compilation of political theories in the end of Warring States Period. Before Qin unifying the other six rival kingdoms of his time, Lv Buwei, the prime minister at that period, organized the ones with wisdom among his hangers-on to compose the book, which drew upon the merits of each other.The book "Han ? Art and Literature" call it“the Eclectic”as one of the“collection of academic and ideological thoughts in Pre-Qin and primary Han period”. The thinking of“LvshiChunqiu”features“both Mohism and Confucianism, and combining all famous methods and schools”,“suitable for the doctrines of various schools”. Viewing from the longitudinal evolution of Pre-Qin intellectual history, we can see that“LvshiChunqiu”thought has the natural bonds with Mohism. This paper centers on the "Ten Theses" of Mohism , by investigating what“LvshiChunqiu”has developed and what has abandoned in terms of the Mohism, thus spreading out the evolutionary clue of the political thought in Pre-Qin period.This paper investigates the historical relationships between“Mohism”and“LvshiChunqiu”at the beginning. Qin is one of the main activity areas for Mohist School in the later stage, for which we can find much mentions in“LvshiChunqiu”. Therefore, we know that Mohism has great influences to Qin, including the following three aspects: the importance of castellan skills of Mohism to the Qin military development; the influence of Mohist group activities to Qin society; the influence of Mohist political thought to the intellectuals in Qin State.By comparing the political thoughts of“Mohism”and“LvshiChunqiu”, as well as the political and the electoral system, this paper suggests that:First, the so-called "loyal policy" is to treat people, govern the country as well as discard disorder and seek governance according to the standard of "loyalty" of the governers.“Mohism”praises highly of“Heaven”, while“LvshiChunqiu”lays particular stress on“Heaven and Man”, but both of which value the interacting between Heaven and Men. Universal love and love all comply with the demands of Heaven to Men, which are in favor of others’behaviors, both beneficiary and righteous. Man can pursuit his reasonable benefits, but must correspond to the demand of righteousness. Husbandary and economic in fury are part of the methods of conducting "loyal policy".“Mohism”considers from the angle of economic benefit, proposing economical in expenditure and bury. Meanwhile,“LvshiChunqiu”absorbs these methods of“Mohism”, but starting from regime and the consideration about the dead. Besides, war is a disloyal behavior and influences economic development, Mohism proposes anti-war thinking, but“Mohism”and“LvshiChunqiu”think highly of the righteousness of war, agreeing with service men, but against injustice war. The "going for a battle"in the book if " Mohism " and "compulsory serviceman" in "Lvshi Chunqiu" are the same in this regard.Second, the electoral system is one of the key contents of political thinkingm, which is the basis of establishing national organizational form, and also to govern the country by producing the emperor and ministers. Both“Mohism”and“LvshiChunqiu”think that emperor is the production of human development to a certain social period. They think that the best replacing way of emperor is abdicating and banding over the crown to another person, and the rights of the emperor must be restricted. But "Lvshi Chunqiu" emphasize more on the opinion that the production of the emperor is based on struggle. To govern a country cannot be away with the emperor and the persons with virtue and wisdom. For the second type of person, we should trust all the talents and apply them to the position according to their ability. Based on absorbing the thoughts of Mohism,“LvshiChunqiu”discusses more specifically about the selection and employing of virtual persons, as well as their relationship with the liege.“LvshiChunqiu”both develops and abandons the political thoughts of“Mohism”, which is based on the different political standing, as well as the development of the time. Therefore, it is also a specific expression of the integrated academic thinking in the Pre-Qin period.
Keywords/Search Tags:Mohism, LvShiChunQiu, Political Thought, Comparsion
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