Political Concern of Scholars on the Tang Dynasty and Modern Introspection on it——An Investigation Based on Confucian Biography in The Old and The New Biographical History of the Tang Dynasty

Confucian scholars were self-obligatory by participating in and showing concern with political affairs.Even in the Tang Dynasty when Confucian theory had not gained great advancement,scholars showed all the same concern with political matters in the day.In terms of the Confucian Biography in The Old and The New Biographical History of the Tang Dynasty,Confucian scholars did not do much to theoretically advance Confucian political thinking,but they did do much to intensify the spirit of Confucian ceremonial education and government.They were active in interfering with political life and taking part in construction of political power with their ceremonial learning,which was characteristic of political concern of Confucian scholars in the Tang Dynasty.From a modern perspective,the means of regarding and participating in politics of traditional Confucian scholars,including those in the Tang Dynasty,is worth modern scholars reflecting.As history had it,Confucian scholars couldn't bring their political concern in action only by making an effort at the construction and perseverance of political institutions.Moreover,Confucian scholars in those days generally tended to preserve their own academic dignity by remembering classical writings or quoting from classics or interpret the spirit of ceremonial government with miscellaneous details of ceremony and propriety.In a word,they simply adhered rigidly to tedious investigation of Confucian works,totally losing the ability of reflecting on realistic problems in society.As a result,the decline of Confucian thinking became a historical necessity.