Great Unity and the discrimination of legitimate dynastic succession constitute the core content of traditional Chinese political legitimacy discourse. A historical-political science analysis of the discourse on Great Unity and legitimate succession is an important dimension for gaining an in-depth understanding of traditional Chinese theories of political legitimacy.

The legitimacy discourse under the theme of Great Unity reflects the intrinsic connection between ideological articulation and institutional design in different historical periods, whereas the legitimacy discourse centered on the discrimination of legitimate succession further manifests the interaction between cultural resources and political practice within the traditional political system in a more technical and purposive manner.

The legitimacy discourses of both Great Unity and legitimate succession derive their evolutionary dynamics from the tension between political power and cultural context, revealing the profound historical anxiety that political actors have long confronted under complex circumstances.

Under the influence of historical processes and political factors, unity and legitimate dynastic succession have exhibited semantic fluidity and controversy in doctrinal claims, forming a traditional model of political legitimacy discourse centered on Great Unity and discriminating legitimate succession in the dimensions of classical exegesis, historical evaluation, and political narration.

Relevant studies have affirmed that unity and legitimate succession originate from the doctrinal meanings of the Gongyang School, and have explored their inherent conceptual connections or the practical contexts of their interpretations. Most researchers have analyzed Great Unity from the perspectives of political cohesion, historical continuity, national identity, cultural bonds, and emotional attachment. While correctly regarding Great Unity as the historical imagination and practical orientation of Chinese political thinking, as well as the spatial framework and evaluative criterion of political operation, they have paid relatively little attention to the political-historical context of "unity" discourse and the historiographical context of "legitimate succession" discourse from the perspective of political legitimacy. This may result in the inherent tensions within legitimacy discourse failing to receive sufficient attention and proper examination.

To understand traditional political legitimacy discourse from the perspective of historical political science, it is necessary to focus on the two conceptual traditions and discursive modes—Great Unity and discriminating legitimate succession—that mutually generate and continuously connect with each other in historical writing. Furthermore, on the basis of re-examining traditional resources, it is essential to further investigate historical situations and political logics, so as to reveal the theoretical implications, value orientations, and governing functions of traditional political legitimacy discourse.

About the author:

Ma Xuesong, Dean and Professor of School of Administration, Jilin University