董仲舒「三統」論對於漢代歷史哲學影響甚大，廓清其循環體系，對於理解「三統」論思想至為重要。「三統循環」以「赤轉黑」為變化關鍵，應對天地陰陽變化的「再而復」、「四而復」法則。形成「黑（赤）—白—赤（黑）」外部循環和「黑—白—赤」內部循環構建的「三統」循環體系，並以歷史上的古帝王譜系為根據，設定自赤帝開始，到漢為止的十二帝系統，明確漢為「復黃帝之德」的正統。藉此解釋漢初五行諸德混亂的現象，並為漢代萬世不易論找尋思想依據和歷史演化證據。

Dong Zhongshu’s (董仲舒) “Santong” theory (三統論) had a great influence on the Chinese history philosophy of the Han dynasty. To clear its circulation system is vital to understand this theory. “Santong cycle” (三統循環) uses “red turns black” as change key, corresponds to the rule of the “two-cycle” and “four-cycle” about the conversion of the sky-earth or negative-positive. It forms a “Santong cycle” system consisted of the outer loop with “black (red)-white-red (black)” and the inner loop with “black-white-red”. And depending on the ancient emperor lineage, 12 emperors system was built, starting with the “Red emperor”, up to the “Han”. It defined that the “Han” was the Orthodox standard which repeated the “Yellow emperor’s destiny”. It would explain the phenomenon that the destinies of five elements in the early “Han” was disorder, and look for the evidence of ideological basis and historical evolution to let the “Han” dynasty last forever.