Formation of the “Twelve sages” (shi-er sheng) cohort in ancient China

Philosophical and cultural studies
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Abstract:

The article deals with the reasons and process of the formation of the “Twelve sages” (shi-er sheng) cohort, which played an important role in the political ideology of the first century A.D. China. Special attention is devoted to the preceding groups of Sages and the image of the legendary judge Gao-yao, whose inclusion finalized the cohort.