Abstract:
Historical facts show that Tao Yuanming’s political philosophy shaped chiefly based on his fundamental “political” and “pastoral” experience. In terms of the essences of the two, pasture and politics were unified, which was originated from the unity between the nature of pasture and that of men. This was the basis of Tao’s philosophy of “pastoral politics”. Deeply rooted in “moralbased” politics, “pastoral politics” conformed to nature, pasture and character of men. The arrangement of “pastoral political” institutions showed that Tao Yuanming emphasized experiential contents of political institutions, such as priority for food and dressing, emphasis on agriculture, no imposing taxes and social harmony. Moreover, Tao also developed his individual view about sovereignty and legal system.
