On the Metaphysical Basis and Modern Interpretation of Dong Zhongshu's Political Philosophy

The research on Dong Zhongshu should start with his achievements on historical philosophy in integrating, inheriting, studying and annotating Confucian classics and observe their central propositions. Dong Zhongshu's thought does not totally depend on political facts of the Han Dynasty but on Confucianism and the philosophers in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States. He put forward the theory of telepathy between heaven and man based on Spring and Autumn as well as The Annals of Spring and Autumn. His Confucian thoughts originated from the theories of The Book of Change, The Book of History, The Annals of Spring and Autumn and different schools in Pre-qin Period. Besides, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, there was a realistic demand in political change and the government wanted to transform from being inactive to being enterprising, which is the basis for the formation of Dong Zhongshu's thought. Dong Zhongshu's political philosophy has not only metaphysical basis but also modern interpretation. It can be called as the management system of modern ecology.