Chapter 21 Chapter 5 Philosophy

In the fourth year of Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty (AD 79), that is, half a century after Jesus was crucified, the Chinese held an important meeting.Because it was held in Baihuguan, it is called "Baihuguan meeting" in history. At this time, just as Constantine moved his capital to Byzantium, the capital of the Han Empire was no longer Chang'an, but Luoyang.The dynasty that experienced the chaos of Wang Mang changed from the Western Han to the Eastern Han just like the Western Zhou changed to the Eastern Zhou. The White Tiger Temple is located in the imperial palace in Luoyang.

Luoyang is a good place.In the eyes of Zhou people, it is the real "China" (in the world).Therefore, Zhou Gong wanted to build Zhou Luoyang outside the old capital of Zong Zhou.Now, the empire's capital is here, and it should be able to enjoy long-term stability. The question is, how can this goal be achieved? Be thoughtful. Indeed, a united empire requires a united mind.Only with this thinking can there be a common value system and code of conduct, and the empire can maintain its rule in a vast geographical area.For this reason, Qin Shihuang burned books to bury Confucianism, and Emperor Wu of Han respected Confucianism alone.

However, just as Roman Christianity was feuding with each other, Confucianism in the Han Dynasty also split into two schools, the modern and the ancient.The Confucian scholars hope that the emperor will come forward to make a dictatorship to form a conclusion, just like the Roman Church wants Constantine to come forward to convene the Council of Nicaea to discuss the relationship between Christ and God. Rome and China are the same rivers and lakes. The emperor is also the boss of the rivers and lakes. The Baihuguan meeting was held because of this, and the conclusion of the meeting has nothing to do with our concerns.What is relevant is that the meeting minutes "Baihutong" clarified an important concept called the three cardinal principles.This concept was later merged with Dong Zhongshu's five constant principles and became the foundation of the Chinese Empire's ideological rule: the three cardinal guides and the five constant principles.

That's the big deal. To understand the significance of this matter, we have to look at Rome. The demise of Rome is puzzling.They had the least bad form of government: a republic; the least bad system: the rule of law; the most valuable spirit: tolerance.With these three, it is enough to stand tall, why would it die?Why do they turn to Christianity when they feel the crisis? In other words, what was missing in Roman civilization? core value. Well, tolerance isn't it? no.Value needs to be pursued and can be pursued, but tolerance has nothing to do with pursuit.If you are tolerant, you will be tolerant; if you are not tolerant, you will not be tolerant.It is actually an attitude, spirit, and realm, but it is not a value, nor does it rely on pursuit.

What about freedom?Isn't freedom a value? of course. It is a pity that although the Romans pursued freedom and admired freedom, they did not write it on their flag.On their banner was the eagle, and after Constantine the cross.That's not a sign of freedom. The rule of law and the republic are not values, but ways and means to realize certain values.The problem is that the Romans did not seem to realize the value behind these two methods. Most of them regarded the rule of law and the republic as purely technical means with a practical and utilitarian attitude. That is to say, the Romans had the least bad system at that time, but they did not have the core values ​​to support the system.This can only be successful for a while, not for a lifetime.When they realize this, the only option left is Christianity.

Of course Christianity is also good, because there is faith.Behind the beliefs are the core values.In other words, faith is only a means and carrier, and core values ​​are the key.It is so vital and indispensable that it must be spoken oracularly in the name of God or Allah. This is the secret of faith. In other words, the purpose of belief lies in the question of the ultimate and ultimate concern.Its practical significance is carrying the core values.This is the reason most peoples of the world have faith or something like it.However, early Christianity, which relied on public power to establish its authority, did not fully conform to the national conditions of Rome.

As a result, Rome died, and Christianity grew in her. So, what about the Chinese Empire? The Chinese Empire also has no faith, but there are only regime changes and cycles of chaos, and there is no long-term division and institutional collapse. Why is this? Because although there is no belief, there is an idea. This is the Three Cardinal Principles and the Five Constant Principles. The three cardinal guides are the ruler guides the subject, the father guides the son, the husband guides the wife, and the five constant rules refer to benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness.Moreover, since Zhu Xi in the Song Dynasty used the Three Cardinal Guidelines and the Five Constant Principles together, the wise and foolish in the government and the field have been familiar with it and regarded it as a standard, maintaining the stability and unity of the dynasty and society.

In fact, outline and constant are two different things. What is Gang?The key is the main rope for lifting the net.When the main rope is lifted, the mesh opens, which is called "Gang Ju Mu Zhang".Since the relationship between monarch and subject, father and son, and husband and wife are the three cardinal principles, then the five constants are the eyes, also called the eyes of virtue. In other words, the three cardinal guides focus on the general, and the five permanent principles are effective. It's important that it works.If an idea doesn't work, it can't be implemented.But the five constants can be used everywhere.For example, benevolence, in the case of the monarch and ministers, is the monarch's benevolence and the minister's loyalty; in the case of father and son, it is the father's kindness and son's filial piety; in the case of husband and wife, it is the husband and wife's tenderness;

Righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith are the same. In traditional Chinese society, monarch and subject, father and son, husband and wife, brothers, and friends are the five most important interpersonal relationships, which Confucians call five relationships.Since the Five Constants can be universally applied to the Five Ethics, it is of course the Ethics. The concept of ethics is also very interesting. What is Lun?Lun is order and category.Therefore, human relations are the order and categories of human society; ethics are the rules that distinguish categories and regulate order; ethics are the executable and operable guiding ideology and code of conduct of ethics.

Obviously, there are three conditions here.First, it must be simple and simple, otherwise it cannot be operated; second, it must be constant, otherwise it will be at a loss; third, it must be correct or be said to be correct, otherwise it is not qualified to act as a normator of ethics and morality . The Five Constants just meet these three conditions. We know that chang means permanent (constant) and ordinary (common).Eternal is correct and constant, ordinary is simple and simple, of course it works, and of course it can be called ethics. So, why does Wuchang have these qualities? Because, Confucians say, they arise from human nature.

In fact, Dong Zhongshu's Wuchang comes from Mencius' Siduan.The end is the birthplace of moral concepts.According to Mencius, it is in the heart of man.Because benevolence is the heart of compassion, righteousness is the heart of shame, propriety is the heart of respect, and wisdom is the heart of right and wrong.This is "everyone has it", so it is common humanity.The benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom deduced from this are common values. Is benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom a value? Yes, because it can be pursued and it is worth pursuing.Pursuing benevolence is called becoming benevolence, and pursuing righteousness is called taking righteousness.And, since they are the highest value, they are worth dying for.For example, to sacrifice one's life for benevolence, to sacrifice one's life for righteousness. So what about the three cardinal principles?Is it also from a common humanity? I'm sorry, the ruler guides his ministers, the father guides his son, and the husband guides his wife. There is no basis for human nature.However, for the empire, the three cardinal principles are more important than the five constant principles.Only when the Three Cardinal Guidelines are established can the rule of the empire be as firm as a rock. This mission fell to Dong Zhongshu, because he was the one who put forward the suggestion of "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone".If you can't give a satisfactory answer, then what is the emperor, what is the Confucianism, what is the world! What should Dong Zhongshu do?