Secret: Why can a hundred schools of thought contend only in the Spring and Autumn Period?

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, many schools and great thinkers appeared, including: Confucianism: Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi; Taoism: Laozi and Zhuangzi; Mohist school: Mozi; Legalists: Han Feizi, Li Si, Shang Yang; Military strategist: Sun Wu, Sun Bin; Masters: Deng, Hui Shi; Yin and Yang Family: Zou Yan; Strategists: Su Qin, Zhang Yi; Saint: Lv Buwei; Farmer: Xu Hang.

The "contention of a hundred schools of thought" in the Spring and Autumn Period is closely related to the social change and historical and cultural transformation in the Spring and Autumn Period. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the system of rites and music representing slavery gradually disintegrated, and the society was in a period of drastic change. At this time, productivity has been improved to a certain extent, advanced production tools and smelting technology have appeared, and social economy has also developed to a certain extent. In particular, the emergence of iron smelting technology has made iron farm tools widely used in agricultural production, greatly improved the efficiency of agricultural production, reclaimed a large number of wasteland, expanded the area of private fields, and new slave owners mastered more and more private fields, greatly expanding their economic strength. They are not satisfied with their original political rights, and the contradiction with the original landlord class in big noble is getting bigger and bigger.

With the improvement of labor productivity, the tax system has also changed accordingly. Before the well field system, the labor rent changed to the real rent, and the popularization of new farm tools and farming techniques freed more people from heavy productive labor and engaged in other jobs, which made the social division of labor progress. This will lead to the re-differentiation of social stratum structure and the emergence of new social strata such as businessmen and craftsmen. These social changes are the fundamental reasons for the political and cultural diversity in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Turbulent spring and autumn

Politically speaking, the collapse of rites and music led to the loss of the old authority represented by the Zhou Emperor, and a new situation emerged. The feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty was constantly denied, some vassal States were destroyed by other vassal States, and the power of the monarch of the vassal States was also impacted by the emerging officials. In the state of Lu, Sun Shu's "rule of three Huan" appeared, and the state of Jin was directly divided up by three great doctors. As for those princes who don't abide by the etiquette system and enjoy the treatment that only emperors can enjoy, there are countless such things as playing the "Eight Clever Dances" while drinking.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were many wars among the vassal states because of the interests. These wars are all to satisfy the monarch's self-interest, so there is a saying that there is no righteous war in the Spring and Autumn Period. In order to maintain the war, the vassal States have intensified the exploitation of the people, and the burden on the workers is heavy. As Guan Zi said, "People participate in their affairs, and food and clothing are the first thing to enter the public", class struggle is often fierce, and people have expelled or killed monarchs in many countries.

The history of China tells us that in an era of political stability, ideological development is relatively balanced; In turbulent times, the development of ideology and culture will accelerate. There is an important phenomenon in this period, that is, the emergence and activities of intellectuals, that is, the "scholar" class.

Confucius' School Plan

In the Zhou Dynasty, not everyone had the right to learn culture, and only the children of princes and nobles were eligible to enter schools. However, in the Spring and Autumn Period, the upsurge of running schools in private schools rose, advocating "no class for all", and the number of educated people increased greatly. These people were "scholars".

Because "scholars" have certain cultural knowledge and can be used by rulers, many nobles have revived the atmosphere of cultivating scholars. The famous Four Childes of the Warring States have nurtured thousands of guests, and many outstanding figures among the "scholars" have been reused and even served as ministers. In order to attract talents, vassal States often adopted a tolerant policy towards scholars and gave them certain ideological and academic freedom. This creates conditions for scholars to write books, express their personal opinions, form their own ideas and promote ideological emancipation.

Let's take Qi as an example to talk about the process of ideological emancipation and a hundred schools of thought contend.

Qi was the first overlord in the Spring and Autumn Period, which was inseparable from their developed economy, enlightened politics and good cultural and educational environment. In order to attract "scholars", Qi gave them generous treatment and gathered talents from all over the world in Gong Xue, Xia Ji, making it the most advanced academic research place.

Xia Ji College

Functionally, Xia Ji is the brain trust of Qi. They created public opinion, designed blueprints and formulated laws and regulations according to the political needs of the King of Qi. Talents from all walks of life conduct academic exchanges and cultural communication here, "talking without discussing". Although they have no actual positions, they can talk about current affairs and politics. This kind of discussion is a political suggestion to the rulers of Qi in a relaxed and free political atmosphere, which is of great help to Qi.

Gong Xue, Xia Ji, provided a good environment and conditions for hundred schools of thought to use Qi, so that Confucianism, Legalism, Strategist and Yin and Yang all exchanged ideas here, so that all kinds of ideas could discuss with each other, compete with each other, learn from each other's strong points, and enrich and develop their respective theories.

In addition to Qi, other countries have also improved the treatment of intellectuals, and academic research in various countries is also in the ascendant. In Wei's Xihe School, many people also became good officials.

Politically speaking, it was in a period of great social change, social unrest and disputes among vassal States. In order to gain hegemony in the struggle, the monarchs of various vassal States competed to recruit talents and talents, and made their countries rich and strong with different ideas and theories. This has created a relaxed environment for a hundred schools of thought to contend.

Economically speaking, the great economic development in the Spring and Autumn Period made some people become leisure classes and have time to engage in their own academic activities.

Scientifically speaking, science and technology made great progress at that time, and people's understanding of things was constantly improving, so they had the capital to understand and study people's spiritual world.

Culturally speaking, the original aristocratic monopoly of cultural scholarship spread to the lower classes of society, and "private learning prevailed." More and more people are qualified to study, which increases the soil for all kinds of ideas.

Generally speaking, the fierce class struggle between the emerging landlord class and the declining slave owners at that time made various cultural concepts take root. These different schools of cultural thought are the foundation of China culture and have a very important influence on the later China culture.