Role of Confucian Scholars and Tang Dynasty - Research Paper Example

Order 448813 Topic: Role of Confucian scholars or advisors in government on the period of Tang Dynasty-influence of Confucian teachings on family or society. Thesis Statement How rulers of the Tang Dynasty were able to create a strong centralized government and work towards unifying the political and cultural divisions between its people and were able to maintain excellent administrative efficiency in the entire country on the strength of classical Confucian teachings? Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 907 AD) Influence of Confucian teachings on family or society. The people during the reign of Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907 AD) were basically sound and industrious and basic conditions were created by the rulers for the people to enable them to become basically sound and industrious. That was the secret of the brilliancy of the dynasty. “The Tang dynasty was a dynasty that was characterized by such strength and brilliance that it is unprecedented by any other. The civil service examination was so refined, that the tests basic form was used in the 20th century. The role of the imperial and local government was amplified so that it centralized administration and enacted an elaborate code of administrative and penal laws.” (Tang Dynasty….)The coup by Li Shihmin, the founder of the Tang Dynasty, proved to be a remarkable event in the history of China and it heralded many structural and administrative changes in the system of governance. The highlights of the achievements were new concepts in foreign relations, unification of national culture, more centralization of powers, radical changes in the fiscal policy that helped the overall growth of the nation from all ends. The good spadework done by the Sui dynasty that ruled previously in administrative, transport and communication areas helped Tang dynasty rulers to consolidate the gains. “Tang Empire was able to create a strong centralized government and work towards unifying the political and cultural divisions between its people…..The Tang emperors set up a strong centralized system of government, in which the emperor was the supreme authority…… Although most of the officials came from influential noble families, some officials were chosen through civil service examinations which tested a persons knowledge of classical Confucian learning and literary composition. With a staff of only 13,465 officials the Tang government was able to oversee a population of more than 50 million people.” (Influences…..) To understand the influence of Confucian Teachings on family and society, it is necessary for us to know something in brief about Confucianism. Wing-tsit Chan writes, “Confucianism did not begin with a tradition. Confucius (551-479 BC) taught various subjects on self-cultivation and the ordering of the society. To be sure, he said there was a thread running through his doctrines (i-kuan), but he did not say what it was. Only his pupil understood it as loyalty to the self, that is fully developing one’s moral capacity (chung) and extending it in the treatment of others.”(p.234)The interpretation of this assertion by Confucius is obvious. A perfect individual, loyal to the self, can never mean harm to his society. Individual welfare is in tandem with the social welfare. In a society where people enjoy just secular benefits, spirituality could be easy to pursue. But sometimes economic realities defy the well-meaning logic aimed at the welfare of the people. An equal land allotment to the male population was the Tang’s strength initially and it worked well. Tax was linked to allotments and it proved to be the greatest source of income to the Tang rulers. This apart, rotational military service was applicable to all males and that was the source of strength of Tang’s military. Over the period, this system began to develop cracks. The reason was population explosion. Land allotments to the male decreased with the increased population. Though that did not affect the income of the Government, the individual income was badly affected and set off the trend of migration. The government’s income decreased and it also had a telling effect on the strength of the military. Most of the classical Chinese is highly ambiguous. To derive the correct meaning of Confucian teachings is a tough assignment, and it is liable for various types of interpretations. There is nothing like the final verdict on any subject. As Arthur Waley points out, “Unfortunately our knowledge of the period is far too incomplete for any such synthesis to be possible. The literary documents are scanty and of uncertain date; scientific archaeology in China has suffered constant setbacks and is still in its infancy.”(Introduction, p.13) Though spirituality and materialism seems to be invariably at loggerheads, on a careful analysis, the essential difference between the two seems to be one of failure to proper understanding. Materialism speaks about the scientific approach to issues. The spiritualists say that spirituality is the science of sciences. For, that which is not practical cannot be spiritual either. Every spiritual revelation must stand the test of practicability. The concern of Confucian ideals for individual/family and welfare of the society is paramount. If society is compared to a mighty mansion, family is like its walls. The individual is like the brick. In his writings, the spiritual currents are invariably seen. At the same time, his concern for the welfare of the people and the responsibility of the State towards its people are given top priority. Explaining this position Arthur Waley writes, “Or should the claims of the people to what it is ‘right and proper’ for them to have be satisfied before public expenditure is lavished upon the protecting spirits? The reply of Confucius is that claims of the people should come first, but the spirits must be accorded an attention sufficient to ‘keep them at a distance,’ that is to say, prevent them from manifesting their ill-will by attacking human beings; for just as we regard sickness as due to the onslaught of microbes, the Chinese regarded it as due to demonical ‘possession.’”(Introduction, p, 31-32.) The rulers of Tang Dynasty utilized many of the principles laid down by Confucius in his work Analects. Wing-tsi-Chen writes, “ In the Analects it is said that he taught culture, conduct, loyalty, and faithfulness; that he often talked about poetry, history, and the performance of the rules of propriety; and that he taught people to “set your will on the Way, have a firm grasp in virtue, rely on humanity(jen) and find recreation in the arts.”(p.234)In fine, Confucius pleads for an all-embracing life wherein equal importance is given to duties and responsibilities. Ethical and moral values dominate his writings. Confucian ideology is akin to Marxism on many counts, except that it abhors violent approach to achieve the ends. Marxism doesn’t give much importance to family values, and human beings are considered as the production tools of the State. In the system of administration Confucian values stand on an even keel as compared to Marxism. Like the dominance of all-powerful bureaucracy on an unwilling g workforce and population. Waley quotes Confucius, “The Master said, a gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side" (p.91). This is a profound observation. The small man mentioned here is not a poor man, or the one whose status is low from the criteria of economics. This small man is with a small heart; selfish disposition; the one who is concerned about his welfare only and does not consider the merits of the issues in the broader perspective. Confucius pleads for responsibility at every stage of life of an individual. According to him, “A youth, when at home, should be filial, and abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies.”(Confucius, p.6) A gentleman often mentioned by Confucius is the individual with higher plane of the mind and action, and not a social class. He gives utmost importance for changing the thought processes of an individual for seeking better avenues here and the hereafter. An individual must seek the path for betterment through social relationships and self-efforts. Standards of goodness, loyalty and wisdom take the front seat in developing the personality of an individual. Each one is accountable to someone/something else, including the supreme ruler. Bureaucracy needs to be virtuous. Dependence on hierarchies is an important part of the Confucian approach--friendships, families, social disposition etc are part of it. Desire for self-improvement is the universal phenomena found throughout the human history irrespective of rule of any dynasty. It is a timeless part of human nature, under all conditions, whether capitalism, communism or feudalism. The lessons of Confucius and the emphasis he places on self-development and social harmony have to be understood in this context. It is difficult to bind Confucius with any philosophy, though almost all the schools of thought lay a claim on his teachings. The rulers of Tang dynasty are no exception. In fine, Analects is a matchless self-help book and it is much more than that! It is a great book for self-development and helps one treading the path of spirituality. It takes a comprehensive sweep at all facets of life, and the inner growth of an individual. The early Tang monarchs followed the teachings of Confucius and they were noble rulers. Bur once the morality was given a go by the Kings, things began to fall apart. One emperor, Hsuan Tsung, fell in love with a woman. He failed to perform the duties expected of the King. Corruption crept in, in the administration as that woman was instrumental in placing family members and friends in pivotal government positions. A general thus favored, An Li-shan, quarreled with the woman’s brother and this eventually led to a long war that lasted for eight years. With this rebellion, the Central Government was weakened. This development also emboldened other generals along the border and Tang could not control them. Such generals did not remit the tax money and created kingdoms from the area they were designated to protect. The Spread of Confucianism: “Beginning in the Tang Dynasty… the Neo-Confucians sought to bring renewed vigor to Confucianism. Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming and the other Neo-Confucians gave Confucianism a more thorough system of metaphysics and distilled a more clearly codified value structure from the ideas of Confucius and his early disciples.”(Exploring….)Another deep impact on the Chinese society during the Tang dynasty was decline of Buddhism and Confucianism gained ground. Many of the Tang officials were Confucian disciples and considered Buddhism as the disruptive force in China. In 845, the issue took a violent turn. Persecution of the Buddhists was a state-sponsored activity. About 4600 monasteries and 40,000 temples and other shrines were destroyed. Notwithstanding all this unrest, the dynasty held on. Economic and social growth was the common thread of unity between them even during the period of disunion. Paper money and handicraft guilds came into existence during the later period of Tang dynasty. This disunion was also known as the Five Dynasties period.(907-960)In Southern China, ten independent states came into existence. Conclusion: The Confucian key concept was followed by the initial rulers of the Tang dynasty. The concept is, “In order to govern others one must first govern oneself. When developed sufficiently, the kings personal virtue spreads beneficent influence throughout the kingdom. This idea is developed further in the Great Learning and is tightly linked with the Taoist concept of wu wei: the less the king does, the more that is done. By being the "calm center" around which the kingdom turns, the king allows everything to function smoothly and avoids having to tamper with the individual parts of the whole.” (Confucianism….) This is a profound concept wherein one sees the harmonious blending of secularism and the highest spiritual truths. In the final analysis, it is rather impossible to define what Confucianism precisely is. Is there any Confucianism in the real sense? It can be vaguely defined as a group of individuals owing allegiance to Master Kong to be the Greatest Master. It also means a social group that follows prescribed moral, political and philosophical doctrines, as applicable and as modified as per the demand of the group from time to time. This group can be identified with Tang dynasty and the like. ************** Works Cited: Chan, Wing-tsit: Exploring the Confucian Tradition; Philosophy East and West, Vol. 38, No. 3, Fiftieth Anniversary, Department of Philosophy, University... Published by: University of Hawaii Press Confucianism; Debated during the Warring States Period… www.crystalinks.com/confucianism.html - Cached - Similar Retrieved on June 28, 2010 Confucius. The Analects; Books.google.in Exploring Chinese History: Culture: Philosophy: Confucianism www.ibiblio.org/chinesehistory/contents/02cul/c04s04.html - Cached - Similar Retrieved on June 28, 2010. Influences on and of the Tang Dynasty Retrieved on July 9, 2010 Tang Dynasty--During the Tang dynasty, Buddhism declined, and Confucianism became more popular. Retrieved on June 28, 2010 Waley, Arthur. The Analects of Confucius; Vintage; First edition, August 28, 1989 Read More