Theory Of Confucian Scholars In Ming Dynasty To The Imperial Power

Ming dynasty is the period of centralization highly developed. The confucian scholars werethe subjects of officials, who took an important part in the system, and they were the maincarriers of traditional Chinese culture. The relationship between confucian scholars andimperial power, is one of important issues in the studies of Ming Dynasty. Especially, BattleOf Jing-Nan，Tu-Mu incident，Struggle Of Da-Li-Yi，and Dong-Lin Party struggle thesegreat events，could more deeply reflect the relationship between them.The relationship between confucian scholars and imperial power under Battle ofJing-nan，unyielding person—Fang Xiaoru，as one of typical characters， represented thevoices of who had the courage to confect with Zhu Di’s government, and would die rather thansurrender. While the gifted scholar—Xie Jin，had outstanding literary grace，he chose anopposite way, and prostrated himself in Zhu Di’s foot. But he still had confucian scholars’conscience and responsibility，couldn’t be entirely dependent on Zhu Di. Therefore, he was ina semi-state of dependence. He represented another type of confucian scholars. And Chen Yingwas the representatives of completely dependent on the imperial power. To get great wealth, heunscrupulous catered to the emperor, and helped Zhu Di to kill the opponents. Throughout thisperiod, fierce confrontation between confucian scholars and imperial power was dominant.When Tu-Mu event took place，faced of national peril，different scholars made differentchoices. Yu Qian uphold the conviction:“country as the first，emperor as the second”，andgenerated a contradiction with imperial power. Though he won in the victory of the foreignenemies, failed in the imperial power struggle. While Xu Youzhen was timid in the time ofnational peril，he took the lead in the imperial power struggle, persecute the faithful andhonest, and completely attached to Ming Yingzong. The last one, Wu Yubi selected a hermitlife, away from the imperial power disputes, in order to be worldly wise and play safe. Inthis period, the strength of attachment to the imperial power gradually grew.The Da-Li-Yi struggle, was triggered by arguments about the appellation of ShiZong’sparents. In the struggle, scholars had a collective confrontation with the imperial. Forexample, confucian scholars like appellation Yang Tinghe adhered to orthodox ideas, and opposed ShiZong’s proposal.“Zuo ShunMen event”, ended by scholars’ collectivebloodshed and sacrifices.While Zhang Cong obedience to the will of the emperor, to drumup support for the imperial power. Wang Shouren stayed out of dispute, but his thoughtbecame the dispute’s theoretical guidance. And the thought’s spread or prohibit thedissemination, reflects distinctively complies or conflicts with the imperial power. Duringthis period, the collective of scholars ended in failure, and the forces of dependent onimperial power was gradually dominant.In DongLin Party struggle, Ye Xianggao as the represent of confucian scholars, chose theway of remonstrate or reconcile, but without oppositional behavior, they were in a state ofsemi-dependency with Imperial power. However, scholars like Gu Bingqian, chose tofollow eunuch party, and completely lost moral and responsibility of scholars。They werecompletely dependent on the imperial power. The last one was Chen Jiru. Heabandonedimperial examination, and became a hermit. For party struggle，he neverparticipated in, and chose a negative attitude to against imperial power. These reflected thecollective attachment to the imperial power.The relationship between confucian scholars and imperial power in Ming dynasty，fromconfucian scholars’ fierce confrontation to compromise to imperial power. This changewould have influence on the country’s prosperity, even affect the entire nation’s culturalpsychology.