The Exclusive Reverence of Confucianism and the Application of the Classics
摘要
The exclusive reverence of Confucianism encompasses various consequences. If Confucianism aims to become a national ideology, it must make some compromising adjustments to the existing political system. In terms of the ideological framework, it needs to transform from localized knowledge into a comprehensive philosophical system. In other words, it is not only essential to comprehend the vastness of the universe but also imperative to observe the minutiae of human affairs. Therefore, during the ideological integration in the early Han period, Confucianism adopted the Five Elements theory from the Yin-Yang school as the core of its cosmology. Additionally, it absorbed concepts such as legal principles and governance from the Legalist school and other philosophical traditions. Consequently, Confucianism became increasingly versatile to meet the demands of reality.