On Dong Zhongshu's Idea of “Being Just Rather than Seeking Benefits and Understanding Moral Principles Rather than Being Concerned for Merits”

This paper, based on the study of the different records and the ideas of Replies to the Idea of the Official of Yue in Jiaoxi that One Should Not Be Benevolent in Chunqiu Fanlu and The Bibliography of Dong Zhongshu in Han Shu, holds that being just and understanding moral principles is Dong Zhongshu's reply to the questions of the three benevolent persons when counseled by the king of the dukes, and its original meaning is Dong Zhongshu's idea about the standard of benevolent persons. Since ancient times, many comments which can be concluded into high praise, severe criticism and simple and honest treatment. Dong Zhongshu's idea of being just and understanding moral principles, which originated from pre-qin scholars' thoughts, is considered as the classic words of Confucian idea of justice and benefit and it it still has its own vitality in modern times.