汉初改制与春秋学的兴起

Institutional Reform in the Early Han Dynasty and the Rise of Gongyang Commentary Studies

秦汉之变,是中国历史上的一大变局。如何认识这一转变,对于了解董仲舒和西汉春秋学的兴起有着重要意义。秦朝治理国家以法为主,这一统治政策并没有达到秦朝统治者长治久安的愿望,最终使得秦朝二世而亡。秦朝的短暂灭亡,对于汉初的统治者和知识分子有着极大的震动。这也成为他们思考如何避免重蹈秦朝灭亡的老路从而实现汉代长久统治问题的历史背景。汉初的统治思想最先以黄老道家为指导,这与当时的形势有关。到了汉武帝时代,儒学的兴起已经势不可挡。以董仲舒为代表的春秋学顺应了历史发展的趋势,最终受到当时统治者的青睐,从而奠定了儒学在两汉政治中的意识形态地位。

The late Qin and early Han dynasties witnessed one of the most dramatic changes in China. This historical background is conducive to understanding Dong Zhongshu and the rise of Gongyang Commentary studies in the Western Han. The Qin monarch ruled the country by draconian law but collapsed under its second emperor. Obviously, its governing principle failed to secure national long-term stability. This dealt a blow to the rulers and intellectuals of the early Han, and forced them to reflect on how to avoid the recurrence of the Qin's collapse and realize their prolonged rule. Under these circumstances, they adopted Huang–Lao Daoism as their guide to ruling. During the reign of Emperor Wu, Confucianism began to prevail. Studies on the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, represented by Dong Zhongshu, resonated with the historical trend of the times and finally won the favor of the rulers. Thereafter, Confucianism attained its status as official ideology in the Han dynasty.