英文摘要 |
The idea of legitimacy denotes the right of governing and practicing power; it is consciously offered by ruling groups and accepted by the subjects. In terms of its historical context, legitimacy is an important research object for the studies of political history, history of political thought, and political culture. The separation of regimes framed the political environment of early medieval China (approximately from the mid-3rd century to the late-6th century), and the transfers of imperial power occurred frequently in both the north and the south. Under this circumstance, all the ruling groups were forced to seek ways to claim their political legitimacy. The pursuit of legitimacy was indeed a significant phenomenon at that time. This essay elucidates the contemporaries' search for legitimacy through analyzing the writings of abdicating, the discourses of “kingly qi,” and the Emperor Wen of Sui's attitudes toward and reactions against the issue of political loyalty as well as the idea of the “Heavenly Way.” By combining the discussions of abstract ideas and historical context, this essay may contribute to the studies of legitimacy, political culture, and early medieval Chinese history. |