The foundation of traditional thought

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". These three 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. Among them, Confucianism constructs the humanitarian spirit in traditional culture; Taoist thought constitutes the philosophical basis of feudal orthodoxy; Legalist thought has become a theoretical weapon for the reform of progressive politicians in past dynasties. The combination of the three forms the basic spirit of China traditional culture.