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| Theory of Interaction between Heaven and Humanity and Deity Punishment Theory: Logical Relationship and Historical Presentation between Nature and Politics in Traditional Chinese Society |
| ZHANG Shou-xian |
| College of Marxism, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500 |
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Abstract To some extent, the theory of interaction between heaven (Tian) and humanity (Ren) and the deity punishment theory (which holds that natural catastrophes are punishment from heaven) imply the logical relationship between nature and politics. The theological imagination of nature and politics began in the Era of the Five Emperors and matured in the Pre-Qin Period. In Pre-Qin period, sacrificial activities in political life corresponded with natural changes. Since “heaven” was identified and determined to be “nature”, Pre-Qin Confucian scholars (Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi) and Taoists (Laotzu and Chuangtzu) tried to define the logical relationship between nature and politics. The former emphasized “man's adaptation to the law of nature”, while the latter emphasized “using law of nature to benefit mankind”. In the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu made the theory of the interaction between heaven and humanity his central theme. The emperor is heaven's ambassador on earth, and natural catastrophes such as floods and droughts are heaven's way of warning the emperor to examine his personal conduct and correct his mistakes. Although this theory had less divine implications as previous ones, it had long-lasting and profound influence on traditional Chinese society. “The imperial edicts in the West Han Dynasty were fraught with words of fright” and Emperor Yongzheng “publicized and implemented political policies in the name of Way of Heaven (Tian Dao)”. All these reflected the theoretical value and historical limitation of the theory of the interaction between heaven and humanity and the deity punishment theory, and revealed the logical relationship between nature and politics in traditional Chinese society and its historical presentation, thus providing a broad historical space for us to examine and reflect on the notion of revering nature, respecting nature and protecting nature in modern society.
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Received: 10 September 2018
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2019, Vol. 36 
