A Research On The Similarities And Differences Of Xunzi And Dong Zhongshu's Political Philosophy System

Both of Xunzi and Dong Zhongshu are important scholars in the history of traditional political philosophy.Their political philosophy has had profound influences on later generations.While there are problems such as lack of systemically and comparatively research about their political philosophy.This paper uses the discourse system of western political philosophy to analyze their political philosophy and systematically construct their theories,and comparing both the similarities and differences between their theory systems.This paper consists of five chapters.The first chapter is prolegomena,mainly introduce the topic background and significance,current research of home and abroad,research difficulties and innovations.The second chapter analyzes and systematically constructs Xunzi's political philosophy.Xunzi's “Tian” has two kinds of meanings,one is the source of humanity and the other is name of whole nature presenting as rains and clouds.But both of them can not interfere in human matters.This paper clarifies the debate around Xunzi's theory of humanity in recent years.Xunzi's category of“Humanity” has potential but not realistic evil,and “Potential Evil Theory” should be its most appropriate designation.Xunzi advocated saints create rites and music by accumulating kindness experiences consistently.The state and power derived from early rites and music,which stipulated social members of their respective responsibility.As to the principle of power operation,Xunzi advocated rites should be more important than legislation.Xunzi advocated attach more importance to normal people,but that is implement reason for stabilizing the social order.Xunzi also advocated principles are more important than emperor,called for the officials at all levels counsel and supervise the power of emperor.Xunzi pursued ideal condition that gregarious accordance.The third chapter analyzes and systematically constructs Dong Zhongshu's political philosophy.Dongzi deduced induction between heaven and human from corresponding principle.Dongzi considered “Tian” to be a God with joys and sorrows,who can interfere in human matters.This paper clarifies the debate around Dongzi's theory of humanity in recent years.Dongzi emphasized humanity has potential good quality instead of realistic kindness,kindness had to be taught by saints and emperor,and“Potential Justice Theory” should be its most appropriate designation.Dongzi added“Tian” between emperor and normal people,required rulers attached more importance to normal people in the name of “Tian”,and claimed moral principles should be more important than punishment.Dongzi advocated emperor's power is authorized by heaven,and should be supervised by it.Heaven supervise the emperor by showing some propitious omens or calamities to reward or warning emperor.Dongzi advocatedkindness should spread over all sides to all ethnic groups,and should convince other ethnic groups by kindness.Dongzi pursed the kindness of saint,hoped to achieve the ideal condition that heaven unify the emperor and the emperor unify the official and normal people.The forth chapter compares the similarities and differences between Xunzi and Dongzi's theory systems and analyses the reasons.The similarities include attach more importance to normal people,consider rite or morality to be more important than legislation or punishment and political ideals.The differences including the concept of relationship between heaven and human,theory of humanity,source of power and supervision,and regime legitimacy,etc.The difference from view of relationship between heaven and human is the root of other differences.The differences in the theory are mainly caused by their different life background and the major Confucian classics they learned and taught.Because they had similar core ideas,so their theory systems are the same as a whole.The fifth chapter is a summary statement on the above views.The contrast analysis shows that Xunzi and Dongzi's theories can be contrasted to the western political philosophy discourse system.The early Confucian political philosophy represented by them is similar with modern western political philosophy,which is study the political content by philosophical method.