英文摘要 |
This paper derives the origin of Daoism from the tragic fate of the survivors of the Yin dynasty. Through several generations’ effort, the Zhou nation finally conquers the Yin. Emperor Wu of the Zhou proclaims a principle of dynastic inheritance on the basis of an ethical cosmology: the great Heaven constantly transfers political legitimacy from immoral emperors to virtuous ones. According to this new principle, the Zhou Royalty is entitled to impose dictatorship on the Yin survivors. Daoism derives from the thought of these Yin survivors who are unable to resist the Zhou’s rule. They are forced to become plain farmers, now living in low profile on agricultural land issued by the new government. Later they become eremites who distance themselves from the Zhou’s “liyue” (rite and music) institution. Confucius, a descendant of the Yin noble who promotes the liyue teachings of the Zhou, is mocked and condemned by Jie Yu (接輿) and other eremites. The anti-Confucian arguments in Laozi is actually the eremites’ collective criticism on the “liyue” institution of the Zhou House. In conclusion, the division of ancient Confucian and Daoist thoughts reflects the contradiction between the rulings of the Yin and the Zhou. |