Research On Wei-yuan's Thought Of Political Ethics

Wei yuan lived in the transition period that unrest society,mistreated and invaded by many big powers and corrupt officialdom.For these social problems,Wei yuan had profound understanding.As a hunanese,Wei yuan had enculturatened by the tradition of real learning of Huxiang School,gotten the academic training by the Present Character Classics,and the influenced by western political system and civilization.Above factors formed social-history background and ideological-cultural background of Wei yuan's thought of political ethics.On the political ideal,on the one hand,Wei yuan dreamed of the administration of Three Generation and the saints;on the other hand,he pointed out defect with ethical standards of "benevolence"(?)and "public"(?).He inherited political ethics thought of Confucian and advocated the theory of benevolent government.About ideal governing strategy,Wei yuan did not simply make one's choice between hegemony and tyranny,but stressesed "heart"(motivation)primarily and "track"(action)secondaryly in order to define both,and then integrated both in the purpose of building prosperous and strong country.Wei yuan inherited the thought of people-oriented of Confucian,repeatedly stress importance and legitimacy people's interests.He also put forward different moral requirements according to people of different levels that gentleman should come righteousness first,and the common people should be guided by benefit.About the official morality,wei yuan mainly embraced the monarch's morality and minister'morality to expand.From people-oriented thought,He emphasised on the monarch should listen to the opinions of the masses through various channels,and hold that system of advice officials in ancient China maybe block the silencing.He warned the ruler should advocat thrift and curb extravagance,and emphasised on the police of thrift should be considered the benefit of different levels of the people.About minister'morality,Wei yuan mainly emphasised on minister should be good at giving advice to the emperor,and experince thrift.Wei yuan's thought of political ethics mainly inherited the traditional of Confucian thought,but also integrated the thought of other school such as Taoism,legalism and even Buddhism,ect.Wei yuan's academic thought had already possessed the embryonic form of "Chinese Body and Western Usage".On the one hand,he fully inherited the Chinese traditional culture,especially the ethics of Confucian culture,and emphasized the idea of governing with virtue.On the other hand,he saw the universal meaning of the democratic electoral system and parliamentary system in western countries which embodiedlectoral the idea of Justice and equality.But he did give valuable suggestion on account of the reform of political system in Qing Dynasty.These issues discussed by Wei yuan was common concerned by thinkers in Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty,such as the issue of people-oriented,the relationship between hegemony and tyranny.These discussions reflected Chinese' awakening of consciousness of democracy and civil rights.Wei yuan's thought of political ethics had enlightened meaning to the later generations.For example,his introduction and praise according western political system and his praise was one of thought resources for kang Youwei and others promoting political reform in late Qing Qynasty.His view of public and private interest contains concept of democracy,equality and nationa,these concepts had fully developed by such as Liang Qichao.