ECON 101:
US Interest Rate Down = 
China Exchange Rate Up !
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Escape from Hengyang by Qiong Yao |
CONFUCIANISM, DAOISM & BUDDHISMConfucianism vs Daoism During Early Han Dynasty Mr Lin Yutang proposed during early 20th century the notion that 'ancient Chinese were Confucian superficially, Daoist innerside, and legalist in governance.' A careful perusal of early Han Dynasty history will show the kind of interwining nature of the three schools of thought in governance and philosophy. Han Dynasty founder (Han Emperor Gaodi, Liu Bang) was never fond of Confucians. When receiving a 60-year-old confucian by the name of Li Yiji, Gaodi deliberately had two maids wash his feet; when Li Yiji challenged Gaodi on the matter of not showing respect for the old confucian, Liu Bang called the name of 'shu ru' (i.e., damned confucian); Liu Bang did not show respect for Li Yiji till Li Yiji cited successes and failures in history as examples for Liu Bang to win the war against Qin Empire. At the time of Emperor Jingdi (reign 156-141 BC), a Confucian, by the name of Dong Zhongshu, was made into a so-called 'bo shi', i.e., doctor, for his research into Confucius' book Springs & Autums. In 140 BC, when Emperor Wudi got enthroned at the age of 16, he would make a decree that local governors send in learned persons to the capital, and over one hundred intelligentsia, include Dong Zhongshu of Guangchuan, Gongsun Hong of Zichuan, and Yan Zhu of Kuaiji, came to the capital. Wudi disapproved of the old officialdom policy which was to have officials (worthy of a pay of 2000 units of grains) recommend their sons and nephews for various posts. The new decree, 'advocating thrift people and recomemending filial people', discounted the family origin. A good story about Wudi would be his assigning Yan Si (an old man who went through two prior emperors' rule without any promotion) for the post of du wei (governing captain) of Kuaiji Commandary Wudi was impressed by Dong Zhongshu's article which advocated Confucianism as the creed for ruling a nation. Wudi conferred Dong a post as prime minister for King of Jiangdu (Liu Fei). Prime Minister Wei Guan suggested to Wudi that only few Confucian intelligentsia like Gongsun Hong and Yan Zhu should be retained while the rest non-Confucians could be sent back to their homes. After Wudi replaced Wei Guan with Dou Ying (nephew of Dowager Empress Doutaihou), Dou Ying and Tian Fen would locate two Confucians for Wudi: Zhao Guan and Wang Zang. Zhao Guan and Wang Zang were two of the thousand students of an eighty-year-old Shen-gong of ex-Chu Principality. Shen-gong was renowned for his research into ancient Shi Jing [classics of poems]. Shen-gong was invited to the capital by Wudi, but Shen-gong somehow performed modestly for sake of avoiding palace struggles. Dowager Empress Doutaihou, who previously intended to kill 'bo shi' Yuan Gu who served under Emperor Jingdi, would force Wudi into having Zhao Guan and Wang Zang arrested for propagation of Confucianism. Doutaihou was fond of Daoism and hated Yuan Gu, Zhao Guan and Wang Zang for advocating Confucianism. Zhao Guan and Wang Zang, who offended Doutaihou for advising Wudi on prevention of empress intervention in politics, would commit suicide inside the prison. Under the pressure of Doutaihou, Wudi deprived Dou Ying and Tian Fen of their posts. Shen-gong claimed illness and went home. Confucianism did not get developed until much later. After the death of Dowager Empress Doutaihou, Tian Fen was assigned the post as prime minister. Dong Zhongshu, who was conferred a post as prime minister for King of Jiangdu (Liu Fei), would be impeached by an official called Zhufu Yan in 135 BC. Han General Guan Fu tried to mediate over the relationship of Tian Fen and Dou Ying, but he offended Tian Feng in a marriage banquet in 131 BC. With the help of Dowager Empress Wangtaihou, Tian Feng made Wudi order that both Guan Fu and Dou Ying be executed. Guan Fu's whole family were exterminated. Wudi's brother, King of Lu, discovered some surviving books hidden by the 8th generation grandson of Confucius (Kong Zixiang) inside of the walls of Confucius' house. Zhang Tang, a censor or inspector under Wudi and a cruel criminal law official, would order 'bo shi' scholars to research into Shang Shu and Shi Jing. (Zhang Tang was notorious for his childhood article 'Interrrogating Mice' on which occasion he caught and interrogated mice after digging through mice's underground caves to catch the mice for mice's stealing his family's grains.) In 130 BC, at the age of 80, Gongsun Hong, who claimed illness after returning from the Huns as an emissary, was recommended to the court again. Yuan Gu was over the age of 90 by that time. Gongsun Hong was conferred the post as yushi dafu, i.e., censor-in-chief. Zhufu Yan, using Jia Yi's ideas, proposed to Wudi to have various Liu kings divide their domain into smaller fiefs among their brothers and sons so that various Liu kings would not be strong enough to pose a threat to the central government. Zhufu Yan also proposed pacifying policies with the Huns; but, after General Wei Qing and General Li Xi defeated the Hunnic kings in Loufan and Baiyang and took over the Hetao land south of the Yellow River in 127 BC, Zhufu Yan changed his mind and proposed to Wudi to have a castle built on the north bank of the North Yellow River Bend in the same way as Qin Emperor Shihuangdi did. Gongsun Hong advised against Zhufu Yan's proposal by citing the futile attempts of Qin Shihuangdi in mobilizing 300,000 people for building the castle. Wudi concurred with Zhufu Yan in relocating over 100,000 people to the north bank. Zhufu Yan impeached King of Yan for his lasciviousness, and King Yan was ordered by Wudi to commit suicide. Zhufu Yan was dispatched to King of Qi as prime minister. Angry that his daughter could not be married over to King Qi, Zhufu Yan impeached King Qi for King Qi's affairs with a sister. King Qi committed suicide. Gongsun Hong impeached Zhufu Yan for King Qi's death, and Wudi ordered Zhufu Yan and his family be executed. Wudi deprived Xue Ze of the prime minister post; Gongsun Hong was conferred the post of prime minister (the post that belonged to three so-called 'san gong' or three duke-equivalents) and the title of Marquis Pingjin in 124 BC. Gongsun Hong, following the practice of eminent princes of Warring States time period, set up several guest houses for attracting talents and counsellors. Gongsun Hong appeared thrifty and pious, but jealous of talents and extravagent inside. Dong Zhongshu had criticisms of Gongsun Hong. Gongsun Hong somehow inhibited Wudi's attempt to recall Dong Zhongshu. With Gongsun Hong as prime minister, Wudi instituted the position of wu jing bo shi, i.e., Five Classics Doctorals and ordered that prefectures and various Liu kingdoms dispatch learned youths to the capital as doctoral students. Confucius' ninth generation grandson, Kong An'guo, was among the doctorals teaching the students. Gongsun Hong recommended Ji An for the post of rightside nei shi and recommended Dong Zhongshu for the post of prime minister for King of Jiaoxi (Liu Rui), in the attempt of ridding the two political enemies by means of 'borrowed knife'. Dong Zhongshu resigned his post for retirement shortly thereafter and then finished a 100,000 character book entitled Chunqiu Fanlu (miscellaneous dews from Spring & Autumn era). Zhang Tang was conferred the post of ting wei (court captain). Zhang Tang and Gongsun Hong colluded with each other, and Ji An refused to show respect for the two. Zhang Tang had under his service a learned doctoral student called Ni Kuan; Ni Kuan was known to Wudi for his article that Zhang Tang submitted to Wudi. In 124 BC, Wei Qing was conferred the post of Da Jiangjun (Grand General or Generalissimo) for defeating Hunnic 'rightside virtuous king' and capturing 150,000 Huns; Wei's three babies and his generals were conferred marquisdom titles; Wei Qing married with 40 year old widow, Princess Pingyang. Though, Ji An still showed no respect for Wei Qing. The next year, Wei Qing led 6 columns against Huns. General Zhao Xin surrendered to Huns. General Huo Qubing, however, had a small victory. Wudi, to enrich the depleted royal savings spent on campaigns against the Huns, would decree that officialdom could be bought with money. King of Huainan, Liu An, hired eight elderly intelligentsia and completed the alchemy and legends book, Huai Nan Zi. King of Huainan committed suicide when his attempt to rebel against Wudi was exposed, and Zhang Tang tried accomplices and exterminated the families of people involved. Huainan fief was reduced to Jiujiang Commandary. King of Hengshan, Liu Ci, followed the suit of Liu An. Hengshan fief was reduced to a commandary. Seven year old prince was made a crown prince. Marquis Bowang-hou (Zhang Qian) was dispatched to the west again. Also notable would be a figure called Dongfang Shuo who, per research of some scholar, had been recorded to have travelled to the Arctic area more than 2000 years ago. The basis of this claim would be Dongfang Shuo's writings in regards to 'extreme darkness' and 'extreme daylight' for six months, respectively. TO BE CONTINUED ! Written by Ah Xiang |
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Li Hongzhang's Poem After 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki:
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ECON 101: US Interest Rate Down = China Exchange Rate Up !
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![Though, Anna Wang [Anneliese Martens], in her memoirs, expressed jealousy over Gong Peng by stating that the Anglo-American reporters had flattered the Chinese communists and the communist movement as a result of being entranced with the goldfish-eye'ed personal assistant of Zhou Enlai](GongPeng.jpg)