What are the factions of various schools of thought in history? Why do some emperors like Confucianism?

In the history of China, there are three religions and nine schools, and hundreds of schools of thought. In other words, there are many schools, and the ones with great influence include Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Yin-Yang School, Mohism, famous strategists, military strategists, and political strategists. That's probably all. In fact, later on, foreign Buddhism had a very great influence. However, the boundaries between these schools were somewhat unclear at the beginning, and later there were signs of convergence. To say that the emperor likes Confucianism is just superficial. As Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty said: The Han family has its own laws, which are mixed with the Tao of Overlord, so how can it only rely on Confucianism? ?Just from this sentence, we can see that Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty at least still had Legalism and imperial art in his thoughts.

Taoist thought is actually quite complicated. Some scholars even believe that all academic schools in China originated from Taoism. Xing Huochen believes that the original Taoism talked about the unity of nature and man, and the body and nature. Later, a lot of health care, mysticism and other contents were added. After the introduction of Buddhism, it also absorbed Buddhist scientific and educational rituals, etc., but Taoist rituals have their own Chinese characteristics. The Confucianism that we have in mind now is a kind of knowledge defined by Dong Zhongshu and Zhu Xi. It is about heaven and earth, king and teacher, three cardinal guides and five constant principles. The original Confucianism is more about the attitude towards life and the ideal of governing the country, and does not have so many articles and clauses later. Legalists talk about laws, techniques, and momentum, but the most important thing is practicality. Only then will there be reforms. Laws must change according to the times. Confucians believe that not changing the father's laws for three years is filial piety. Confucianism teaches stability, and law teaches change. But Legalism and current law are obviously different.

The Yin Yang family explains the changes of yin and yang in the heaven and earth, including the content of Yixue and mysticism. Mohism advocates universal love and non-aggression, and talks about the ideal of world unity. It is a bit unrealistic for celebrities to argue endlessly about things in name and reality. Military strategists talk about the use of troops. Politicians talk about the benefits of words and pierce people's hearts, and gain great benefits from it.

Of course, these are just Xing Huochen’s own opinions and are not enough evidence, just talk.

Although later emperors advocated Confucianism on the surface, they actually used both and encompassed everything. As long as it is conducive to rule, they will use it, and if it is not conducive to rule, they will discard it.

They advocate Confucian loyalty and filial piety to officials and common people. People who are filial to their parents will naturally be loyal to the monarch. This is easy to understand. No family-oriented person would do bad things or rebel. Regarding the management of the imperial court system, including military laws and regulations, there is actually a lot of Legalism content, which is nothing more than changing with the times so that the emperor can get the maximum benefit from managing the country, the country can still operate smoothly, and the people can live well. .

In the ideological prison, Buddhism, Taoism, Yin-Yang and other contents are mixed in, which is nothing more than promoting destiny, advocating accumulating virtue and cultivating immortality, being poor but having Taoism, or turning to the land of bliss after death. Many edicts issued by the imperial court, including those regarding changes in dynasties, are a mixture of Confucian theory, Yin-Yang theory, and celebrity theory. They talk about destiny, ancestors, the cycle of yin and yang, ancient emperors and saints, and then say something like a famous scholar. There are a lot of specious truths, so just make everyone believe them. When it comes to war and conquest, it is naturally the content of military strategists and political strategists. Military strategists and political strategists have at least one thing in common, and that is deceit.

From this point of view, Confucianism is just a big signboard. The emperor’s big shop has a Confucian signboard and sells various products.