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A Glimpse of Chinese Political Wisdom
The Chinese nation has formed a profound political tradition in its thousands of years of history. The political development of ancient China experienced several stages, including the origin of Confucian political thought, the concept of Tiandao (天道, the way of heaven), the concept of Jian Tianxia (家天下, the family ruling the state), monarchical centralisation, the formation of bureaucratic system, and the governing philosophy of Huang-Lao Thought (黄老思想).
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Traditional Ethics in Ancient China
The term “Five Relationships” is based on ethics, which refers to a set of moral principles and norms concerning interpersonal relationships. Confucianism, as the mainstream of traditional Chinese ideology, also played a dominant role in traditional Chinese ethics.
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君君父父—「家天下」的由來
有家先有國?有國先有家?這個議題在不同時代總引起爭論。「國家」概念早在春秋時代已有。當時的「國」和「家」是兩個概念,即東漢經學家趙岐所說的:「國謂諸侯之國,家謂卿大夫家也。」
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家臣難防—由侍從到統治者的宦官
中國歷史上,宦官干政屢見不鮮。根據《周禮‧天官》記載,西周時期已有宦官制度,當時的宦官主要負責維持後宮的秩序、糾禁內廷,還要承擔宮內的飲食起居、祭祀享宴等事務,地位十分低微。但由於是君王身邊的侍從,君權太重之下,亦為宦官造就了干政的機會。
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君權獨大—宰相在政治體制中消失?
宰相是輔助君主的人,權力可謂一人之下萬人之上。宰相需要「掌丞天子,助理萬機」,擔任政府的總管,以協助君主治理國家。宰相既是君主的總管,又是朝廷官員的領袖,難免會對獨尊的皇權構成一定壓力。
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無為而治—黃老思想就能創造盛世?
漢朝是中國歷史上強盛的朝代之一。漢高祖劉邦立國後,採用「黃老思想」來治國,後來的「文景之治」,也是奉行老子所提倡的「無為而治」。「黃老思想」和「無為而治」都源自老子,是他的政治理念。
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民貴君輕—中國最早的民主
《尚書‧五子之歌》早已提出「民唯邦本、本固邦寧」的觀念,認為人民是國家的根本,根基穩固國家才能安寧。孟子亦指出:「民為貴,社稷次之,君為輕。」這是一種以民為本的思想,稱為「民本思想」。
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借老賣老—託古崇古的統治之法
所謂託古是把現今之事說成是古已有之,假借古代或古人的名義,來推行自己的主張,以加強自己的論據。這是儒家史學思想的組成部分,亦是一種訴諸權威的傳播方法。春秋戰國時代,周天子的統治權威漸趨沒落,諸侯間互相征伐,以至禮制敗壞,時局動盪。