Dong Zhongshu and the Sinicization of Confucian State Ideology (c. 179–104 BCE)

1. Dong Zhongshu born amid early Western Han consolidation

   Jan 1, 179 BCELabels: Dong Zhongshu, Western Han

   • Britannica
   • Dong Bio

2. Emperor Wu begins reign and seeks governing doctrine

   Jan 1, 141 BCELabels: Emperor Wu, Western Han

   • Book of Han
   • Dong Bio

3. Court examinations elevate scholar-advisers at Wu’s court

   Jan 1, 140 BCELabels: Gongsun Hong, Imperial court

   • Britannica
   • Gongsun Hong

4. Confucianism adopted as state ideology under Wu

   Jan 1, 136 BCELabels: Emperor Wu, Confucianism

   • Britannica

5. Five Classics become core credential for officeholding

   Jan 1, 136 BCELabels: Five Classics, Imperial exams

   • Wujing

6. Dong submits policy memorials linking Heaven and rulership

   Jan 1, 134 BCELabels: Dong Zhongshu, Heaven-human

   • Dong Bio
   • Ganying

7. Imperial Academy (Taixue) founded to train Confucian officials

   Jan 1, 124 BCELabels: Taixue, Imperial Academy

   • Wujing
   • Taixue

8. Gongsun Hong becomes chancellor, reinforcing Confucian court dominance

   Jan 1, 124 BCELabels: Gongsun Hong, Chancellor

   • Britannica
   • Gongsun Hong

9. Portent interpretation becomes part of accepted state discourse

   Jan 1, 121 BCELabels: Portent interpretation, Western Han

   • Britannica
   • Ganying

10. Dong’s ‘Chunqiu Fanlu’ tradition links classics, cosmology, and policy

    Jan 1, 120 BCELabels: Chunqiu Fanlu, Dong tradition

    • Chunqiu Fanlu
    • Columbia UP

11. Dong Zhongshu dies; his synthesis continues through Han institutions

    Jan 1, 104 BCELabels: Dong Zhongshu, Han institutions

    • Dong Bio
    • Book of Han

12. Salt and Iron Debate shows Confucian role in policy critique

    Jan 1, 81 BCELabels: Salt and, Western Han

    • Salt Iron