New Tendencies, Religious and Philosophical, in the Chinese World of the Third through Sixth Centuries

Abstract

Abstract The fall of the unified empire of the Han (206/202 bc–ad 220) was one of the most momentous events in Chinese history. Its origins go back to the first half of the second century ad, while its repercussions were being felt during the entire Six Dynasties period (220–589) and even beyond. If I had to choose just three events to highlight the main themes and images influential in the intellectual and religious developments in the centuries after the breakdown of the imperial order, I would suggest the following dates: The first is ad 190, the year the Han capital Luoyang was devastated by the warlord Dong Zhuo (d. 192), an event that included the complete destruction of the Han imperial library and archives. The History of the Later Han Dynasty (Hou-Han shu) relates that the books and documents of these two institutions were torn apart and scattered; the silken scrolls were cut up and used as bags or canopies when the emperor was forcibly moved to Chang’an. What had been saved was either lost enroute or destroyed during the ensuing in Chang’an.