Chinese Concept of Emperors: The Cultural Paradigm of Revering and Punishing Rulers in Public Consciousness

Author: Zhang Fentian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The concept of Chinese emperors can be decomposed into four components: the notion of power and authority, the way to become a ruler, the way of ruling, and the principle that the Dao is superior to the ruler. This book reveals the origin, composition, and exclusivity of imperial power in terms of ideology by interpreting the meanings of various cultural symbols that signify royal authority. Through an analysis of the theories of the origin of monarchy and the theory that the ruler is the foundation of governance, it uncovers the political choice model shared by the Hundred Schools of Thought. The book also analyzes the subjective aspects of culture, such as the emperor's self-awareness and the personality of the emperor, from multiple perspectives, revealing the main characteristics of the Chinese imperial spirit world.