Development of the Outlooks on the Mandate of Heaven in Pre-Qin(先秦) Period

Abstract

This work will study the outlooks on the mandate of Heaven in pre-Qin period, as one of philosophical studies on the relations between Heaven & Human beings, the core of ancient thoughts in East Asian traditional history & culture. The 1st chap. is introduction, it will mention the theories on concepts of Heaven and a thesis that the Human models the Heaven as a leading study. The 2nd chap. will defy some definitions of the mandate of Heaven, the road(way) of Heaven, and Heaven’s vengeance as a punishment to disobedience against Heaven’s Will. The 3rd chap. will introduce main theories on three step developments of the outlooks on the mandate of Heaven in pre-Qin period mainly concerning works in the continent of China, which show an epoch-making change before and after reform & opening of socialist market economy. To the end of 20th century, researches in the continent of China were faithful (devoted) to historical materialism of Marxism and disparage the religions & faiths as a political tool & a narcotic against the people’s will. But from the beginning of 21st century, researches approve the positive functions of religions in the human history & culture, so appreciate developments of the outlooks on the mandate of Heaven in pre-Qin period. Then this work will try the author’s own analysis & criticism based on classical literatures. ｢on｣; (documen-tary) records; documents The 4th chap. is the outlook on the mandate of Heaven and the thought on disasters from Heaven in Yin(殷) dynasty. The 5th chap. is the outlook on the mandate of Heaven and the thought on disasters from Heaven in West-Zhou(西周) dynasty. The 6th chap. will survey and comment on the changes of the outlook on the mandate of Heaven in Spring & Autumn(Chun-Qiu) period and Warring States period. Lastly the 7th chap. will come up with an the author’s own idea of the probability of the historical, philosophical, and universal(or cosmic) origin of the outlook on the mandate of Heaven. The 8th chap. is a brief conclusion. The author of this work anticipate that some able students may have interest in this subject and accomplish further more deepening inquiry.