On Intellectuals and the Construction of Han Dynasty Culture: The Mixing and Praxis of Confucianism, Official Service and Occult Practices
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Pai, Pin-Chien
Abstract
The intellectuals during the pre-Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty could be discussed from two dimensions. Ideally, intellectuals should not only be determined to pursue Dao(道) but aspire to Dao. The Confucian scholars in the pre-Qin Dynasty were a typical case, who were well-read, engaged, and aspired to Ren(仁). In reality, however, not all of the intellectuals were Confucian scholars. During the Warring States period, intellectuals included Hundred Schools of Thought and people who knew small tricks. These people differed from the common ones. They formulated their theories or were well-equipped with professional skills, forming so-called the intelligentsia.
Culturally, the Warring States period featured academic innovation and integration. Under Travelling Scholars’ debates, schools of thought gradually broke their boundaries and nourished the Han Dynasty culture. In the Han Dynasty, where Travelling Scholars faded, Confucian scholars whose leading representative was Dong Zhong-shu(董仲舒) integrated the thoughts of Hundred Schools of Thought into the Han Dynasty Confucianism which could be accepted by the regime. With the advocate of Emperor Wu-Ti of the Former Han dynasty(漢武帝), Confucian scholars became the most conspicuous group among intellectuals. They concealed other intelligentsia with special skills. The Qin Dynasty emperors ran the states by laws, and the emperors in the Han Dynasty followed in the steps. For this reason, there were officials, being familiar with laws and administration affairs, aside from Confucian scholars in the Han Dynasty. The officials might not have noble sentiment to pursue Dao, but their knowledge and skills were completely from real action. They were one of the dependence in the Han Dynasty culture. Along with Confucian scholars and officials, there were alchemists. Among the Travelling Scholars in the Warring States period, the alchemists in the Yan state and the Qi state were once glamorous for the Qin dynasty emperor Shi-Huang''s(秦始皇) and the Former Han dynasty emperor Wu-Ti’s seeking Daoist immortals. During that period, occult practices were a necessity of daily life. Afterwards, alchemists seemed to disappear in history but be ubiquitous.
The intellectuals with knowledge or skills held an important position to pass on knowledge. Confucianism, official service and occult practices were the main forces in the Han Dynasty culture. They caused full-scale influence over the Han Dynasty society in many ways. The three forces were independent but affected each other in the Han Dynasty. The reason was because the intellectuals were Confucian scholars, officials and alchemists in one. The intellectuals possessed different science and skills, and they knew well how to spread culture. Thus, different cultures surrounded the intellectuals and flew across each other closely and lively between the social classes, constructing the Han Dynasty culture which was imposing and focused on implementation.
History is a developing process, where some of the critical cases could not be neglected. Under the effort of the intellectuals, the Han Dynasty culture tended to blend. Though some social turbulence appeared during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the culture which was rich in vigor and engaged spirit wouldn’t be covered.
Subjects
儒生
文吏
方士
漢代文化
Type
thesis
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