The Evolution of China's Mainstream Thought of Traditional Culture

Confucianism is the mainstream of traditional culture in China. It experienced the establishment and development in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the transformation and respect in the Western Han Dynasty, the transformation and maturity in the Song and Ming Dynasties, and the criticism and inheritance in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the early enlightenment thoughts with personality liberation as the core and reflecting social needs quietly grew.

The Evolution of China's Traditional Mainstream Thought

Great changes have taken place in China during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Hundred schools of thought put forward the idea of governing the country and leveling the world, and a situation of "a hundred schools of thought contend" appeared. The academic thoughts in this period shine brilliantly and become the source of ideological and cultural development in later generations. Confucianism entered a relatively mature stage earlier after being created and summarized by thinkers such as Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi.

After Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Dong Zhongshu absorbed the ideas of Taoism, Legalism and Yin-Yang and Five Elements, formed a new Confucian system, and put forward such ideas as "the unification of spring and autumn", "the feeling between man and nature" and "the divine right of monarch". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty accepted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion of "ousting a hundred schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone". Since then, Confucianism has been established as an authentic thought and has become the mainstream of China's traditional thought.

During Wei, Jin, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Buddhism prevailed, Taoism spread widely among the people, and traditional Confucianism was challenged.

A new Confucian system-Zhu Cheng Neo-Confucianism was formed in the Song Dynasty. On the basis of absorbing Buddhism and Taoism, it greatly deepened the traditional Confucianism and further consolidated and highlighted the dominant position of Confucianism in the traditional culture of China.

When Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism was used by the government and gradually lost its vitality, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the early enlightenment thoughts with personality liberation as the core and reflecting social needs quietly grew. Progressive thinkers criticized Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties, advocated the spirit of seeking truth, and created a new situation with active thoughts.