The Political Thought of “Four Texts of Yellow Emperor”
Author: Lin Chun-Hung
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
Jing Fa (Constant Law 經法 )、Shi Liu Jing (The Sixteen Classics 十六經 )、Cheng (Aphorisms 稱 ) and DauYuan (On Tao the Fundamental 道原 ), which known as “Four Texts of Yellow Emperor” systematically sort out the discourses on Tao from Lao-tsu and Juang-tsu. By stressing that it is out of Tao that laws come into being, “Four Texts” endows laws with a higher ranking of legitimacy. “Four Texts” also dissert that as soon as forms and names are established , it will be easy to make clear the distinction between the ruler and the ruled. The functions and interactions referred to political roles reveal the emphasis of ruling skills hidden in the theory construction of “Four Texts”. Yin ( 陰 )、yang ( 陽 )、four seasons ( 四時 )、virtue ( 德 ) and punishment ( 刑 ) are well arranged and connected in “Four Texts”, therefore the regulation of Heaven，which begins with wen ( 文 ) and ends with wu ( 武 ), is similar to the regulation of governing. We can read the influence in some works of Legalist later. The concepts “xiu” (void, emptiness) and “jing” (still, on its own) rooted in《Lao-Tsu》have been critically and creatively transferred to be technical and positive by Huang Lao thought found in “Four Texts”. The core thinking and the form of discourse found in “Four Texts” are quite different from what read in 《 Lao-Tsu 》. It exemplifies re-construction rather than just destruction when facing the grand scale of chaos of “Warring States”. We can also feel the strong want of order which reflects the crucial mobilization of thinking to the achievement and practical orientation. New political order is shaping, and it’s the theory of “Four Texts” that paths the way for a unitary epoch.