Listen to this articledà yī tǒng 大一统
Great Unity
推重国家思想与法度的统一。“大一统”之说是由董仲舒（前179—前104）提出的，用以概括《春秋》一书的思想主旨。董仲舒认为，国家需要统一法令制度，而要实现法令制度的统一，还需要统一思想。思想的纷杂不一，会使得民众无所遵从。董仲舒选择儒家学说作为国家统一的思想。在董仲舒看来，推重法制乃至思想的统一，是一种恒常不变的法则。
This concept places importance on the unity of national ideology and law. It was put forward by Dong Zhongshu (179-104 BC) as an underlying theme of The Spring and Autumn Annals. In his view, the state needs a uniform legal system, but to achieve such unity, different schools of thought must be unified first. Without a unified ideology, people will not know which one to follow. Dong believed that Confucianism should be the one and only governing ideology for a nation. In his opinion, the unity of law and ideology should be an enduring principle.
引例 Citations：
◎《春秋》大一统者，天地之常经，古今之通谊也。今师异道，人异论，百家殊方，指意不同，是以上亡以持一统；法制数变，下不知所守。臣愚以为诸不在六艺之科孔子之术者，皆绝其道，勿使并进。邪辟之说灭息，然后统纪可一而法度可明，民知所从矣。（《汉书·董仲舒传》）
（《春秋》推重国家思想与法度的统一，这是天地永恒的法则，是古今相通的道理。如今老师讲授不同的道理，人们发表不同的议论，百家学说各异，旨意不同，所以居上位者无法秉持统一的标准。法令制度屡次变换，臣民不知道如何去遵守。我认为凡不属于六艺科目及与孔子相关的学说，都要禁止，不许他们同时发展。乖僻不正的学说禁绝了，然后纲纪可以统一而法令制度可以显明，民众就知道所要遵从的法则。）
The notion of “great unity” which underlies The Spring and Autumn Annals is the constant norm applicable equally to past and present. Nowadays, teachers have different doctrines and people have different opinions. Scholars have different theories and do not have a shared philosophy. That is why the ruler is unable to enforce uniform standards. When there are frequent changes to laws and decrees, the subjects do not know by what they should abide. In my humble opinion, everything that does not belong to the six arts and Confucianism should be banned and not be allowed to develop. Prohibiting unorthodox doctrines: this is the way to unify the rules of government, bring clarity to laws and regulations and make people know what they should follow. (The History of the Han Dynasty)
