Binary Opposition between"Moral"and"Law":An Aspect of the Political Idea in the Reign of Hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period
Moral and law are not only a theme in the history of pre-Qin political thought but also an important reflection of the governance philosophy of that era.During the Spring and Autumn,the traditional concept of morality and law gradually evolved into a binary opposition between morality and law.They could be used to handle both domestic and foreign affairs within a state,manage affairs between states,and serve as a strategy for dealing with relations between the Han and other peoples.As the governing philosophies of various feudal states,in response to some monarchs and high ministers who relied heavily on punishments to consolidate power,some ministers proposed the governance policy of"cultivating political virtue and prohibiting excessive punishments"to ease conflicts and achieve power sharing.The overemphasis on punishment by hegemonic politics also caused dissatisfaction among some smaller states and ministers,who criticized the concept of"neglecting virtue for military contention".It can be said that the binary view of morality and law is an important observation point for understanding pre-Qin political thought.
moral and lawthe Spring and Autumn periodthe reign of hegemonypolitical idea
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