A Study Of Chenliang Social Thought

Chen Liang is a famous thinker of the Southern Song Dynasty and the founder of the school of Yongkang, which is an original ideology. His utilitarian thoughts have already become an important part of Chinese history of ancient thought, and have a huge impact on the society at that time and afterwards. His thoughts cover the political, economic, cultural, and military aspects. This paper is a omprehensive study of Chen Liang’s social thought.Chen Liang’s social thoughts are built on the basis of his view of nature and humanity. This paper elaborates from etiquette, monarchy, utilitarianism, economy and other aspects, with the focus on sociological sense of Chen Liang’s thoughts. Chen Liang’s unique thoughts are not only the product of commodity economy under the feudal era, but also the result of the intensification of ethnic conflicts and social class contradictions. His thoughts are progressive in an era of science.This paper is divided into five parts. Part one is an introduction of research significance, content and method, and research status of Chen Liang’s social thought. Part two focuses on the exposition of the social drawbacks of the Southern Song Dynasty through the description of the social situation in the Southern Song Dynasty, which lays the foundation for the formation of Chen Liang’s social thoughts. Moreover, this part also deals with Chen Liang’s life and his academic career in order to explore the external factors of the formation of Chen Liang’s social thoughts. Part three concentrates on the theoretical basis and the inner logic of the Chen Liang’s social thoughts from his view of nature and humanity. Part four is arranged to introduce the major content of Chen Liang’s social thoughts. This paper argues that the combination of etiquette and law is the core of Chen Liang’s social thoughts and explores the ritual law, the rule of law and the rule of man, and leniency. The ritual law is an advance based on the feudal era doctrine of the rule of law. It points out that benevolence is the core of the combination of etiquette and law, and gives the new meaning of the combination of etiquette and law. Chen Liang believed that the leader of social development is the monarch. The monarch should know the knowledge of being an Emperor and personnel. He also points out that the driving force of social development is the utilitarian thought among the people. Monarchy, benevolent government in Confucian thoughts and people’s desire are all driven by utilitarian thought. Chen Liang also proposed the specific economic measures to promote social development, and social stability relying to the development of agriculture. Therefore, he was devoted to advocating the development of agriculture and stressing that agriculture is the basis of the feudal peasant economy. He got rid of the bounds of traditional concept that advancing agriculture and restraining commerce. He believed that commerce is conducive to social and economic development of the feudal state, advocating agriculture and commerce together. In reality, Chen Liang from utilitarian perspective holds that the rulers should reduce tax for farmers so as to develop agriculture, promote social stability and consolidate the rule. The last part is conclusion, stating the significance of Chen Liang’s social thoughts.