Abstract
Under the influence and nurturing of the landlords and the official class, and because Confucianism was the most suitable philosophy for maintaining the order of feudal control, Zhu Yuanzhang adopted the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius as the guiding ideas for ruling the nation. This article first expounds on [the imperial purpose served by] revering Confucius and learning the classics, instituting rites and music, promoting benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, filial piety, and so forth. It then analyzes, in detail, from historical texts, the severe punishment and strict laws of Zhu Yuanzhang. His severe punishments and strict laws were only implemented under the special circumstances according to the given situations [of his time] and were merely means to an end. It is a mistake to assume that, because he used severe punishment and strict laws, Zhu was implementing Legalist principles rather than the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius [Zhu followed the principle of] "using the military to stabilize the nation and literature to lead to peace." Undoubtedly this is the more accurate evaluation of Zhu Yuanzhang.
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