The Interaction Between the Circulation Theory of Five Virtues and Imperial Power in Ancient China

Abstract

As a theory of daring to speculate on the order of historical development and design the system of political rituals, the Circulation Theory of Five Virtues attracted the attention of a large number of rulers since it was put forward. It became an important part of the guiding ideology behind the rise of many dynasties or regimes and formed an interactive relationship with the expanding imperial power in Chinese history. Originated from the political ideal of advising the monarch to develop qualities of benevolence, righteousness, and frugality, its original idea was to restrain and supervise imperial power. However, under the background of being used and reformed by monarchs, this philosophical system eventually became a tool to serve the expansion of their power and was then abandoned by them. From the perspective of imperial power, different rulers took different attitudes toward it: some adopted it, others reformed it, while some chose to ignore it. Nonetheless, all these attitudes were based on the same purpose - to expand their own power and ensure the legitimacy and stability of their rule.