After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, he strongly advocated the rule of law by legalism, and Confucianism and legalism were rivals, so the tragic incident of "burning books and pitting Confucianism" occurred. We would all think that the empire under Qin Shihuang's rule was actually very repulsive to Confucianism, and would even eliminate Confucianism at all costs.
But the Confucian classics we read now are still alive. Including in the Qin Dynasty, many officials were of Confucian origin, and even achieved great official positions, which lasted until the Liu Bang period of the Han Dynasty. So did Qin Shihuang really hate Confucianism? Today, I will take you to take a look at some of the truth behind "Burning Books and Entrapping Confucianism" and how Qin Shihuang reused Confucianism.
Who killed by "Burning Books and Kengru"?
Regarding book burning, what book did Qin Shihuang burn?
Sima Qian focused on two books in the "Historical Records", one is "The Book of Songs" and the other is "Shangshu", both of which are representatives of Confucian classics.
"Book of Songs" and "Shang Shu" rank very high in the "Five Classics". The burning of books shows that the burning of books initiated by Qin Shihuang was mainly aimed at Confucianism. As for "pitting Confucianism", literally, it is persecuting Confucianism. If we carefully read the "Historical Records" and other documents, we will find that some of the people buried alive by Qin Shihuang were indeed magicians, but a considerable number of them were Confucian scholars. Therefore, many opinions believe that: Kengrukeng is not the Confucian scholars, but the warlocks, that is, the group of people who seek immortal medicine for Qin Shihuang , These The warlocks deceive Qin Shihuang Seeing that he was about to show off, he wanted to escape, but was arrested by Qin Shihuang and buried all of them alive.
In the Qin Dynasty, although Qin Shihuang attacked some Confucian disciples, he also attached great importance to Confucianism and even promoted a large number of Confucian students. once set up an official position called "Doctor". This official position is actually a senior advisor next to the emperor. , A person who became a PhD in the Qin Dynasty means that he is very knowledgeable and can often make suggestions to the emperor. Doctors can also accept apprentices to give lectures. Many of the doctors of the Qin Dynasty came from Confucianism.
There is a great scholar named Shu Sun Tong. After Qin Shi Huang died, he was also appreciated by Qin II. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, Shu Sun Tong also helped Han Gaozu Liu Bang formulate court etiquette. Throughout the Qin Dynasty, the inheritance of Confucianism was unbroken. The inheritance of Confucianism in the Qin Dynasty was inseparable from the policies of Qin Shihuang. Qin Shihuang did not hate Confucianism at all.
Why did "Book burning" and "King Confucianism" happen?
After Qin Shihuang unified the world, he abolished the enfeoffment system of the Zhou royal family and implemented the system of prefectures and counties, forming a highly centralized central government. The so-called county system is different from the enfeoffment system in that the central government sends officials to take over the localities. These officials cannot pass on their positions to their descendants and may be transferred or even dismissed at any time.
Compared with the enfeoffment system, the prefecture system is indeed more conducive to eliminating the hidden danger of division. But before that, the enfeoffment system of the Zhou Dynasty had lasted for more than 800 years, and it was difficult for people to accept the brand new order of the prefecture system. Especially in the view of Confucianism, the system of prefectures and counties is even more intolerable, because Confucianism respects the Zhou Dynasty system and believes that restoring the ancients can bring peace.
When Qin Shihuang had a banquet, a Confucian scholar named Chun Yuyue couldn't stand it anymore. He jumped out and said that the Shang and Zhou dynasties lasted so long because of the enfeoffment system, and the princes provided a barrier for the emperor. Now your Majesty has abolished the enfeoffment system. If a minister appears in the court to try to usurp the throne, who will come to rescue? For long-term peace and stability, your majesty should resume the enfeoffment system.
As soon as Chunyu Yue finished speaking, Prime Minister Li Si became hot, and stood up and said: These Confucian scholars do not understand reality at all and will only confuse people. They should be forbidden to give lectures in private, and then burn all the classics of Confucianism and hundreds of other scholars,In the future, if the people want to learn knowledge, let them learn the law from the officials of the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shihuang accepted Li Si's suggestion and issued an order to "burn the book".
Qin Shihuang’s burning of books was because some Confucianists put forward different political views and challenged the fundamental state policy of the Qin Dynasty, that is, the system of prefectures and counties. If Confucian disciples spread these views in society all day long, it would inevitably hinder the establishment of the system of prefectures and counties. Qin Shihuang decided to burn the book, but the burning of the book is not just for the Confucian family.
According to the "Historical Records", Qin Shihuang burned the books of the various schools of thought and Confucianism together, because Qin Shihuang hoped that the people would not be crazy and just abide by the laws of the Qin Dynasty. .
Although Qin Shihuang banned private Confucian lectures, at the same time, he appointed a group of Confucian scholars as "doctors." These Ph.Ds strictly abide by the laws of the Qin Dynasty, allowing them to accept students to give lectures. Doctoral lectures do not belong to "private studies" in essence, but "official studies", which safeguard imperial rule.
"Historical Records" stated that Qin Shihuang wanted to bury these Confucian scholars alive because they deceived the crowd, so he had to teach them a lesson and show them to the monkeys.
Even after the Confucianism, scholars of Confucianism did not cut their way from then on , The group in the court The doctors are honest and live. It's actually quite moisturizing. Qin Shihuang suppressed Confucianism, this is just the appearance , What he really wanted to do was to use power to control culture and put an end to a hundred schools of thought since the Spring and Autumn Period. Confucianism still continued in the Qin Dynasty. This was the prerequisite for Confucianism to be able to move towards dominance step by step in the Han Dynasty.
Qin Ershi's different treatment?
During the Qin II reign, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang launched an uprising in Daze Township. When the news came, Qin II was very panicked. At that time, there were more than 30 Confucian doctors in the court. They all said that Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were a rebellion, and they absolutely cannot forgive the rebels. Please send troops immediately to suppress the rebellion.
At this time, Shu Sun Tong stood up and said, now that the world is peaceful and the whole world is one family, how can there be rebellion? Those people are nothing more than little thieves. As soon as Qin Ershi heard this, Long Yan Joye immediately rewarded Shu Sun Tong, and then arrested all the Confucian scholars who said there was rebellion, saying that they were bewitching people. Shu Sun Tong got the reward, quickly packed his luggage, and ran away overnight. Later, Xiang Yu broke into Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Dynasty, and burned and looted. Shu Sun Tong ran fast, and this was spared.
Although Shu Sun Tong was born in Confucianism, he has a smooth personality, so he lived safely from the Qin Dynasty to the Han Dynasty. This shows that Qin Shihuang treated Confucianism differently. If you are restless, and always like to say something or not, then I will forbid you to give lectures or even arrest you. If you do your duty honestly, then I will pay to raise you up, and allow you to accept apprentices to teach.
It can be seen that Qin Shihuang’s "burning of books and confucianism" was not out of hatred of Confucianism. is just to Use power to control culture , end the situation of a hundred schools of thought since the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period , and not all the people killed were Confucian scholars, but more quack warlocks. Those who are slick and aware of current affairs can live well, even High officials are generous.
It is not only the Confucian family who burned books, but also the books of hundreds of schools of scholars. It was also for the purpose of achieving the national monopoly of culture. During the Qin II era, Confucian scholars were treated differently. The rush to kill. Therefore, for the "burning of books and pitting Confucianism" incident, we must look at Qin Shihuang's approach more dialectically, and everything is for the rights of the ruler!
References:
1, "Historical Records"
2, "Zizhi Tongjian"
3, "Life and Death Qin Shihuang"
