Why did the ancient feudal dynasty in China admire Confucianism?

Dong Zhongshu put forward "the unification of spring and autumn" and "ousting a hundred schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone", emphasizing that Confucianism is the philosophical foundation of the country and putting an end to other ideological systems. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted his idea. Since then, Confucianism has become orthodox, and the Confucian classics of the Four Books and Five Classics have also become prominent. At this time, Confucius (55 BC1year-479 BC) has been dead for more than one hundred years. Dong Zhongshu developed the part of Taoism, Yin-Yang School and Confucianism that was beneficial to the rule of feudal emperors in specific policies and became a new Confucianism.

During the popularization of Confucianism in Han Dynasty, many social problems were solved. Confucianism tends to manage the country with benevolent policies, and politicians use this as a basis to limit the excessive concentration of land and establish a sound moral system. Some policies are put forward, including "limiting people's names and places, taking their shortcomings" and "three cardinal guides and five permanents".

During the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, the feudal country was strong, which created the premise for the stability of feudal rule. In order to maintain the situation of great unity, we must establish the corresponding ideological system. Dong Zhongshu absorbed Taoism, Legalism and other factors conducive to the rule of the monarch, reformed Confucianism, and added the idea of "divine right of the monarch" and unification, which objectively contributed to the strengthening of feudal centralization, the consolidation of the country, and the stability of society. Since then, Confucianism has gradually become the dominant orthodoxy in feudal society. In the past two thousand years, Confucianism has been dominant. On the one hand, its ideological core, that is, the philosophical concept of the unity of man and nature, the ethical concept of "three cardinal guides and five permanents" with "benevolence" as the core, and the political proposition of unified unification, fundamentally adapted to the needs of feudal autocratic rule.

On the other hand, Confucianism has a strong sense of social responsibility and can constantly change its face with the needs of the times. Confucianism in pre-Qin dynasty was not accepted by the rulers at that time, and even suffered a devastating blow from Qin Shihuang, which was caused by its own theoretical defects when it was founded. The content system of pre-Qin Confucianism is full of strong, gentle and simple ethical family color, which seems to be "pedantic and broader than things". For example, Confucius' "benevolence" aims to restore the era represented by "Zhou Li" by "correcting its name", so Confucius' thoughts will not be favored by emerging landlord forces.

Mencius' theory of "benevolent governance" has shifted to the position of emerging landlord forces, but its theory of "benevolent governance" is based on "the people value the monarch" and excessively highlights the interests of small farmers, so it will not be appreciated by the rulers. History developed to the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and the feudal country was strong, which established the premise for the stability of feudal rule. In order to maintain a unified situation, it is necessary to establish a corresponding ideological system, so that Confucianism can have the conditions to restore vitality.

Confucianism advocates the rule of virtue, courtesy and man, and emphasizes moral influence; Legalists advocate "breaking away from the law", implementing the rule of law and emphasizing violent rule; Taoism advocates letting nature take its course and "governing by doing nothing", which are highly complementary. Through the practice of governing the country in the early Qin Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty, it is proved from both positive and negative aspects: in turbulent times, it is difficult to achieve national unity with the Confucian line, but the Legalist line can achieve such an effect; At the beginning of the unrest, the population withered and the production was destroyed. Therefore, Taoist inaction politics should be practiced to share the interest with the people in order to restore and develop production. When the country is stable and on the track of normal operation, it can no longer implement the violent rule of harsh laws, and the Confucian line is appropriate. There is a trend of mutual integration among the three.

During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu laid the basic pattern of China's feudal social ruling thought, which was mainly based on the Confucian line and supplemented by the Legalist line and absorbed the Taoist rational thought. Since then, the mode of governing the country with Confucian ethics as the center, legalists' harsh laws as the supplement, and Taoist politics as the means has basically conformed to the ancient national conditions of China, and has become an unchangeable rule of governing the country for the ruling classes in past dynasties.