contention of a hundred schools of thought
Since Confucius founded the Confucian School in the late Spring and Autumn Period, China's philosophy has entered an era in which a hundred schools of thought contend. During the Warring States Period, hundred schools of thought, such as Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, Ming, Bing, Yin and Yang, appeared one after another, arguing with each other and learning from each other, and internal divisions continued to develop, eventually forming a situation of "a hundred schools of thought contend", which greatly promoted the prosperity of China's thought and scholarship.
Zhuangzi and Taoism
Zhuang Zhou (about 369 BC-286 BC), a representative of Taoism in the Warring States Period, was called Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi, a native of Song Dynasty (now the northeast of Shangqiu, Henan Province), was a tearful worker in a lacquer garden, and his family was poor. It is said that he borrowed millet from Hou Jianhe, but when Chu Weiwang hired him with a generous gift, he refused to accept it and was willing to live a poor and happy life. Academically, Zhuangzi inherited and developed Laozi's theory of "Tao is nature", holding that "Tao" is everywhere, emphasizing the self-destruction of things and denying any domination. Zhuangzi believes that "everything is me, right and wrong, size, life and death, dignity and inferiority" and fantasizes about the subjective spiritual realm of "heaven and earth coexist with me, and everything is one with me". Zhuangzi wrote more than 65,438+10,000 words, and there are 33 existing Zhuangzi, which has a great influence on later generations in philosophy and literature.
Mencius and Confucianism
Mencius (about 372 BC-289 BC) was born in Luzou (now Zouxian County, Shandong Province). He is a representative of Confucian school after Confucius. Like Confucius, he also lobbied governors to realize his political views, but his suggestions were never adopted, so he devoted himself to writing and giving lectures. Mencius inherited the political thought system of Confucius, advocated that law is king, practiced benevolent government, opposed the merger war, and put forward progressive ideas such as "valuing the people but neglecting the monarch". His thoughts and remarks are mainly preserved in Mencius. The articles in Mencius are logical, fluent, magnificent, argumentative and inspiring. Mencius had a far-reaching influence in the history of literature. Sima Qian in the Western Han Dynasty, the Eight Masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, and Fang Bao and Yao Nai, the representatives of Tongcheng School in Qing Dynasty, all admired Mencius, and their works were influenced by Mencius to varying degrees.
Gouzi's theory of evil nature
Xunzi, a famous figure, was the most influential Confucian figure in the late Warring States period. He possessed a vast store of knowledge. He gave lectures at Xia Ji Palace in Qi State and became the first scholar in Xia Ji. On the question of whether human nature is good or evil, Mencius advocates that human nature is good, while Gou Zi, on the other hand, advocates "the theory of evil nature". Therefore, Xunzi advocated the rule of law, the centralization of monarchy and the strengthening of rule by courtesy and punishment. The combination of Wang Ba, the rule of virtue and the rule of law is the greatest feature of Xunzi's Confucianism.
Mozi and Mohism
Mozi (about 476 BC-390 BC) was the founder of Mohism. The date and place of birth are still controversial. Mozi traveled among vassal states for a long time, propagating his ideal of "love without attacking". Mozi is a collection of Mohist works, with 53 articles in 15 volume. It is a reliable material for studying Mohism and occupies an important position in the history of China's philosophy and logic.
Keiko and famous artists
Keiko (about 370 BC-3 BC10), a famous poet, was a representative of famous artists in the Song Dynasty during the Warring States Period. He used to be the prime minister of Wei Huiwang and had close contacts with Zhuangzi. "Zhuangzi Tianxia" said that "Hui Shi has more books and five cars". Keiko has 10 important arguments, including "ten historical events", putting forward such viewpoints as "under heaven and earth, the sum of mountains and mountains", "the arrogance of the sun, the life of things does not die" and drawing the conclusion that "everything is universal and heaven and earth are integrated". These theories have a strong speculative color and have a certain influence on later philosophy.
Zou Yan and Yin and Yang Family
Zou Yan (305 BC-240 BC), an alchemist on the seashore of Qi State, was a representative of Yin and Yang families. During the Warring States Period, Yin and Yang advocated the theory of Yin and Yang and Five Elements. It is said that its ideological origin can be traced back to the officials in charge of astronomy and counting in Yao Dynasty. Based on "profound understanding of Yin and Yang news", Zou Yan put forward the historical development formula of five elements winning, and thought that "five virtues are invincible, followed by wood virtue, earth virtue, benevolence virtue, fire virtue and water virtue". This is the famous theory of "Five Virtues in the End". This theory had a great influence on later philosophy and religion.
Sun Bin and the Military Strategist
Sun Di was a famous strategist in the Warring States Period. According to legend, he was Sun Wu's post-Shang Dynasty. Both he and Pang Dong learned the art of war from Guiguzi. When he became a general, he was jealous of Sun Bin's talent and tricked him into Wei, where he was punished by his kneecap. Later, the emissaries of Qi brought their secrets back to Qi. Qi Weiwang saw Sun Bin's extraordinary talent and worshipped him as a strategist. In the battle of Guiling and Maling between Qi and Wei, Sun Di commanded Qi's army to defeat Wei Jun twice, forcing Pang Liu to commit suicide and making Qi a powerful country. Sun Bin's most famous war example is "encircling Wei to save Zhao", which is admired and imitated by ancient and modern military strategists. Sun Bin's Art of War, written by Sun Bin and his disciples, inherited Sun Wu's military thoughts, summed up the war experience before the mid-Warring States period, and left a valuable military theoretical legacy for later generations.
Vertical and horizontal
A strategist is a counselor who engaged in political and diplomatic activities through lobbying during the Warring States period. Their main strategies are He Zong and Lian Heng, represented by Su Qin and Zhang Yi. Su Qin once lobbied the governors of the six countries to unite against Qin. Qin is in the west, and the territory of the six countries is connected by the north and the south, so it is called "Lian". Zhang Yi specializes in Lian Heng, helping Qin to break the six countries one by one by means of disintegration. During the Warring States period, the Seven-State War continued, and countries competed to recruit talented people, so strategists prevailed for a while. In addition to Su Qin and Yi Cheung, Gongsun Yan joined forces with the five eastern countries to attack the State of Qin. According to the Records of Hanshu Yiwenzhi, there are 30 representative works of this school, but unfortunately they have been lost.
Han Fei and Legalists
Han Fei (about 280 BC-233 BC) was a representative figure of Legalists at the end of the Warring States Period. Later generations compiled his works into fifty-five pieces of Han Feizi. Han Feizi, based on law, integrated law, technique and potential, developed legalist thought and had a great influence on later generations.
An eclectic saint
Miscellaneous school is the latest school in the Warring States period, and "miscellaneous" means not sticking to one pattern. Miscellaneous schools think that each school has its own strengths and weaknesses, trying to synthesize the strengths of each school and form its own school. The sage is represented by Lv Buwei, the prime minister of Qin Dynasty, and his main works are Lv Chunqiu. Lu's "Spring and Autumn Annals" takes morality as the standard and inaction as the discipline, which has a strong color of Confucianism and Taoism.