Dong Zhongshu and Han Yu showed distinctions in their views of Confucianism. Dong intended to synthesize learning of different schools whereas Han had to face the historical tendency of collaboration of the three religions. As a result, the former advocated worshipping Confucius while the latter, Mencius. Dong emphasized the establishment of the orthodox doctrine while Han advertised the succession of traditional doctrine. Dong paid attention to the relationship between heaven and men but Han showed concern with temperament. As a result, Dong had a profound influence on Confucian scholarship in the Han Dynasty while Han had an internal ideological connection with neoConfucianism in the Song Dynasty.

Confucianism in the Han and the Tang Dynasty; Dong Zhongshu; Han Yu; cultural views in the Han and the Tang Dynasty