During the Warring States period, a philosopher named Zou Yan came to prominence, and based on the theory of yin and yang, he created theories such as "The End of the Five Virtues" and "Great Kyushu". Zou Yan is not only an outstanding scholar in the academic field, but also has left a strong mark in the long river of history with his political wisdom.
Although the year of birth and death of Zou Yan cannot be accurately verified, he rose to prominence in the Qi State at the end of the Warring States Period and became a representative figure of the Yin and Yang family, laying the cornerstone for the philosophical research of later generations. He was highly regarded for his scholarly attainments in the Jixia Academy, known as "Tan Tianyan", and was revered by the monarch for his deep understanding of the doctrine of yin and yang.
The cornerstone of Zou Yan's thought is the theory of "the end of the five virtues", and through the extension of the theory of yin and yang, he believes that the development of human society is closely related to the law of mutual restraint and coexistence of the five elements in nature. He emphasized that the change of history is carried out according to the domination of the five elements of earth, wood, metal, fire, and water, and the rise and fall of each dynasty is inevitable. This simple and philosophical view had a profound impact at the time, opening the way for the later Yin and Yang of Confucianism.
Zou Yan's academic views are not empty talk, and he fully demonstrates his wisdom in the political practice of the Yan Kingdom. Favored by King Yan Zhao, Zou Yan assisted the monarch in carrying out reforms, so that the originally weak Yan State gradually grew in strength. His theory of "Great Kyushu" caused a sensation at the time, and he speculated that Kyushu in China (China) was only a microcosm, and that the whole world actually included eight large states outside of Kyushu. This theory not only shocked the monarchs at the time, but also aroused widespread reverie about the overseas world.
Zou Yan's academic views were not only highly valued at the time, but also had a profound impact on later scholarship and politics. On the academic side, Dong Zhongshu combined his theory of yin and yang and the five elements with Confucianism, opening a precedent for the yin and yang of Confucianism. On the political front, his theory of "the end of the five virtues" became a theoretical tool for changing dynasties and was embraced by the founders of successive new dynasties.
In the Yan Kingdom, Zou Yan was worshipped by King Yan Zhao as a teacher, and his political talent was fully utilized. In Yuyang County, he changed the natural weather in a mysterious way, causing the ice and snow to melt and the earth to rejuvenate through the rhythm. He also personally taught farmers to cultivate good seeds, bringing a bumper harvest to Yuyang County, a miracle deeply imprinted in the hearts of the locals, leaving an allusion to "Zou Yan's blowing law".
Zou Yan is a philosopher and politician whose academic contributions and political wisdom shine brightly in history. His theories of "the end of the five virtues" and "Great Kyushu" not only led the academic trend of the time, but also had a profound impact on later Confucianism and political theory. His political practice has left an indelible mark on the Yan Kingdom, and his miracles of blowing the rhythm have also become a good story praised by people. Zou Yan's life, like the theory he founded, is full of wisdom and mystery, and is a bright pearl in the long history of the Warring States Period.