The Political Culture of Confucianism and the Civil-Military Relations of Qing Dynasty

• Main Authors: Yang,Szu Wei, 楊四維
• Other Authors: 洪陸訓
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12404519215794036098

博士 === 國防大學政治作戰學院 === 政治研究所 === 96 === Under the principle of the civil superiority over the military, how to create and maintain a stable civil-military relation is an important subject for both political and military leaders to learn. This paper discusses the characteristics of political culture of Confucianism, primary based on the structural dimension; furthermore, the advantages and disabilities of which shall be explored in discussion as well. In addition, this paper attempts to point out the military ethics system in Confucianism, which may promote the development of civil-military relations of Qing Dynasty. The political culture of Confucianism is based on the mode of production of small agriculture economy and patriarchal clan social structure as main body, which has the characteristics such as dependence, patriarchal clan system and governing by person. As a mirror of political system and political behavior in the fields of spirit, it must he seeped into every field of the society, makes an effort to political behavior by “political psychology”, “political norms”, “political belief” and makes an immeasurable influence on China. The harmony between the heaven and man is the legitimacy thought in the ancient political practice. The core of this system is legitimacy faith based on the monarch's morality. If the ruler has not followed the intention of morality, then he loses the authority over his people. This shows that the doctrines of Confucianism school, which is contain profuse thoughts confining, restricting and normalizing royal power. But in fact, The Emperor surrounded by the civil officers who formed the central policy system, possessed superpower. Many of the Confucian ethical principles are considerably precious to the construction of military ethics. For example, the principles of "righteousness and interest", "loyalty and obey" are of great referential and practical importance, yet not without some negative effects, respectively to the formation of military force values and moral sense, the promotion of personal relationship and cohesion in military force. Civil-military relations can be defined as the relationships between the organizations and members of the armed forces, and the organizations and members of society. These relationships are manifested in relations at different levels between overall organizations, leaders, elite groups, and other members within the armed forces and society at large. The power of troops was the organic constitute of Chinese ancient autarchical regality. Over two hundred years during the Qing Dynasty, the political rulers were in control of central administrative power and local military and political power, meanwhile, they attached much importance to the power of troops, the political struggles which took place during this period all had close relations with it. The conflict of culture is the major reason bringing motivation of political and military reformation in the Qing Dynasty. In the period of political and military reformation, the opposition between reformers and anti-reformers is not only political conflict but cultural one. The rulers of the Qing Dynasty regard "Eight Banner System as the foundation of the country." Since they built the regime in China, the banner men have gradually abandoned their traditions of the Manchu language and the skills of equitation and archery, and deviated from their thrifty and frugal behavior. During the time of New Po1icy, the military reform was the last one in the Qing Dynasty, which built up a New Army, and strengthened the modernization of military force. However, the New Army betrayed tile Qing Government, which accelerated the subversion of the Qing government.