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Wudi succeeded to the throne of the Han Dynasty (206 b.c.e.-220 c.e.) in 141 b.c.e. and became one of the most important emperors in Chinese history. He inherited a government that was politically unstable and torn apart by internal strife, and by instituting a series of reforms, he created a dynasty that would dominate East Asia for the next three centuries.

At the time of his death, Dong Zhongshu was already recognized for his philosophical writings. His work reflected the attempt by intellectuals of the Han Dynasty (206 b.c.e.-220 c.e.) to create a model that would ensure that China would not suffer from the chaotic and repressive governments that were so representative of its early political history. He combined Confucian ideals with his own philosophy of history to produce an operational model that would create an environment of peace and prosperity for the Chinese people.

Sima Qian led one of the most productive lives in Chinese intellectual history. As the author of Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian of China , 1960, rev. ed. 1993), he laid the foundation for the Chinese historical tradition. His philosophy of history was influenced by both the political events and the major intellectual currents that dominated China during his lifetime.