由周人的“巧利”之弊说到《老子》的“绝巧弃利”

A Study on the Relation Between Zhou Dynasty People’s Fault of“Qiao Li”(巧利)and the“Jue Qiao Qi Li”(绝巧弃利)in Lao Zi

《老子》欲绝之“巧”乃巧伪、巧诈之“巧”,而“利”实指货财之“利”,非“利口”“巧言利辞”之“利”。《礼记·表记》载周人“尊礼尚施”,“礼”造成“巧”,“施”则养成趋“利”之势,由此导致周人的“利而巧”之弊,此乃《老子》要“绝巧弃利”的真正原因。周之所以兴,文献多谓“文王受命”,这不过是周人的政治宣传;《诗》则云“陈锡载周”,即强调能“施”“布利”的重要性,此又揭示出周政重“利”的另一面。由“义”“利”关系及“绝巧弃利”看,今本《老子》第十九章的“绝仁弃义”也明显是不合逻辑的。

The word“Qiao”(巧)in phrase“Jue Qiao Qi Li”(绝巧弃利)in Lao Zi means“Qiao Wei”(巧伪)or“Qiao Zha”(巧诈),while the word“Li”(利)actually means property.Biao Ji(表记)chapter records that Zhou Dynasty People have characteristic of“Zun Li Shang Shi”(尊礼尚施).The“Li”(礼)causes“Qiao”(巧)and the“Shi”(施)cultivates the situation of“Li”(利)-seeking.This leads to the fault of“Li Er Qiao”(利而巧).This is the reason why Lao Zi advocates“Jue Qiao Qi Li”.The literature tends to attribute the legality of Zhou Dynasty to“Wen Wang Shou Ming”(文王受命).This is just a politic propaganda of Zhou Dynasty.Book of Songs records“Chen Ci Zai Zhou”(陈锡载周),which emphasizes the importance of“Shi”(施)and“Bu Li”(布利).This reveals another aspect of Zhou Dynasty’s policy which appreciates the“Li”.From the relationship between“Yi”(义)and“Li”,the phrase“Jue Ren Qi Yi”(绝仁弃义)in popular text Lao Zi is obviously illogical.