The Expectation of"Inner Sage and Outer King":Ancient Chinese Monarchical Moral Cultivation Theory and Its Characteristics
The ancient Chinese theory of monarch's moral cultivation(Jun De Lun)originated in the Yin and Zhou peri-ods,developed during the Han and Tang dynasties,flourished in the Song and Yuan dynasties,and underwent transformation during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.It maintained a consistent lineage while continually enriching its content.The es-sence of Jun De includes various factors such as the monarch's moral character,intellectual capabilities,wisdom,and gover-ning abilities.It is primarily reflected in the personal cultivation of the monarch and how they handle relationships with minis-ters and subjects during the governance process.Methods for perfecting Jun De include lecturing on imperial lecterns,educating the heir apparent,family teachings,ministerial admonishments,and evaluations in historical records.The distinct features of ancient Jun De theory include the reverence for the monarch's status,lessons from history,and addressing contemporary needs.The Confucian principles of"cultivating oneself and bringing peace to the nation"and the theory of"inner sage and outer king"serve as the ideological foundation for Jun De.Reading classics,observing history,using classics as standards,and learn-ing from history are essential means for perfecting Jun De,with"emulating Yao and Shun"considered a focal point in the culti-vation of virtues.The ancients established a theoretical system surrounding the monarch's cultivation of virtues.However,it should be noted that discussions on Jun De in ancient times faced an irreconcilable contradiction between"Moral Authority"and"Government Orthodoxy."Additionally,there was a lack of reflection on the institutional level,reflecting only an ethically generalized political ethos.
Jun De theorymonarch's cultivationthe way of the monarchinner sage and outer kinghistorical education
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