Idolatry and superstition

Author: Rui Chuanming (1947~)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Throughout the two thousand years since the Qin Dynasty in ancient China, various groups emerged from time to time, often gathering due to folkish sacrificial activities. If such groups had capable leaders or those with "political ambitions," they would not only become large in number and influential but also possess a relatively strict organizational system. Once they reached this stage, conflicts with official authorities became almost unavoidable: mild measures included warnings, orders to cease activities or disband the groups; severe measures involved military suppression, with leaders arrested and killed, and ordinary members often escaping unharmed. Since the Qin Dynasty established a centralized autocratic regime, activities of groups and violent struggles have occurred intermittently. In ancient China, the autocratic regime was not only a breeding ground for but also a major driving force that "forced" people to gather and oppose authorities, often without conscious intent. The rulers were also often the ones who exacerbated this conflict, leading to bloody clashes. In ancient China, the autocratic system itself and the actions of its rulers largely contributed to the activities and rebellions of groups. Therefore, for the rulers, the thing to do was to fundamentally eliminate these "dangerous factors"; yet, they could never consciously transform the regime into a democratic one. In ancient China, the autocratic regime had to rely on certain beliefs to maintain its legitimacy, meaning it could not but fan the flames of folk. Additionally, due to the lack of democratic supervision, it could not completely eradicate corrupt officials to genuinely improve people's living conditions. In ancient China, as the political system could not be fundamentally changed, the activities and rebellions of groups could not be completely eliminated: the best-case scenario would be that wise rulers, through their "benevolent governance," temporarily alleviate this persistent crisis. This book is divided into three parts: Overview of the Unrest Phenomenon of Groups, Roots of Groups and Their Unrest, and Analysis of the Unrest of Groups.