Triumph of Confucianism in the Han Dynasty

During the Han Dynasty, Confucianism rose to prominence with the assistance of Emperor Wu and his chief minister, Dong Zhongshu. Dong Zhongshu played a crucial role, advocating the idea of the mandate of heaven, which legitimized the emperor's rule but also held them accountable. This concept of divine approval acted as a check on the emperor's power, tying rulership to virtue and the well-being of the people. Emperor Wu established an imperial university focused on Confucian teachings, shaping a bureaucracy of Confucian scholars who passed civil service exams and integrated Confucian classics into their governance.