Research On Dong Zhongshu's Theory Of Human Nature

In the Confucian doctrine,the question of human nature has always been a subject of controversy among scholars.As a famous politician and thinker in the Han Dynasty,Dong Zhongshu also thought about human nature.With the restoration of the agricultural economy,by the time of Emperor Hanwu,the country needed to achieve a comprehensive reunification.Political unity requires unity of thought.On the basis of inheriting the Confucian ideas of human nature from the pre-Qin to the early Han,Dong Zhongshu put forward the theory of human nature that "the nature is not good enough." About the meaning of human nature,in a narrow sense,it refers to people's inherently good-quality that is opposite to sentiment.In a broad sense,human nature encompasses human nature,sentiment,and human nature that is educated.Dong Zhongshu believed that human nature is inherently good but not good.Only education can achieve human goodness.However,in his view,not everyone is enlightened.Among the sages,the ordinary people and the wicked people,only the ordinary people are suitable for enlightenment.The sage is born with good quality and good nature.Even though the wicked people have innate good qualities,they are unable to acquire good qualities through enlightenment.Therefore,he believes that it is the nature of the ordinary people that need to be explored by the theory of human nature.The ordinary people are inherently good-natured and can be taught to do good.This is the general content of Dong Zhongshu's "human nature theory".Dong Zhongshu advocates that the goodness to be achieved by education is a humane goodness that meets the spirit requirements of "Spring and Autumn".Its basic content is the Three Outlines and Five Periods.Education is the main way to achieve people's goodness,and education is the root of political legitimacy.Dong Zhongshu believes that the innate quality contained in human nature is only a prerequisite for success.Acquired education is an indispensable important way for human nature to become good.So,how to achieve enlightenment?Dong Zhongshu emphasized that the implementation of moral governance is the fundamental way.In order to enforce morality,Tianzi and officials at all levels should not only strengthen the cultivation of their own morality,but also establish and consolidate a unified political system for the implementation of morality.This requires establishing the dominant position of Confucianism in the Western Han ideology.This is why DongZhongshu devoted his life to the elucidation and promotion of Confucianism,including the theory of human nature.Dong Zhongshu's theory of human nature has far-reaching influence.He advocated education,spreading and developing Confucianism in the Han Dynasty,and promoted the formation of the three outlines and five permanent ethics with filial piety and loyalty.This is not only conducive to strengthening the dominant position of Confucianism in the Western Han Dynasty,so as to achieve the social and political unity and stability of the Western Han Dynasty,but also for the formation and development of the ideological status of Confucianism in Chinese politics for more than two thousand years,laid a theoretical foundation.