先秦两汉“持满”思想与修身为政之道

The Idea of’Maintaining Fullness’in the Pre-Qin and Han Dynasties and the Way of Self-Cultivation and Governance

“持满”或“持盈”是先秦诸子普遍关注的人生修养问题。战国、秦汉的多种文献均载有孔子由观周庙(或鲁庙)欹器“虚则欹,中则正,满则覆”而兴叹“恶有满而不覆者哉”,进而阐发出谦卑恭谨、自损而益的人生持满之道。西汉时期多种文献也载有孔子对《周易》的《损》《益》二卦的感叹,其阐发的也是一种自损而益、虚以受人的持满之道。《老子》强调“不欲盈”,认为“持而盈之,不如其已”,主张“功成身退”,反对骄奢淫逸,这实际上也是一种持满之道。《管子》既继承了《老子》“功成身退”的人生之道,也主张“持满者与天”,认为明主要效法天道“满而不溢”,做到“贵而不骄”“富而不奢”,进而可以“长守富贵”“久有天下”。《国语》通过对范蠡的叙述,进一步演绎了《管子》中的这种“持盈者与天”的思想。先秦的持满思想对两汉士人与权贵的为人处世之道产生了深刻影响,之后的中国人也都或多或少受到这种人生观的影响,这既是一种美德修养,也是重要的政德修养。儒道两家所强调的“谦受益,满招损”“功成身退”“光而不耀”的持满修身之道共同塑造了中国人优秀的精神品格。

Chiman or chiying(two synonymous terms meaning"maintaining fullness")was of general concern across the various disciplines of pre-Qin philosophers.As recorded in many historical materials of the Warring States period and the Qin and Han dynasties,Confucius commented"how could there be a fullness that does not lead to overturning"when he observed a vessel that overturned when full in the ancestral temple of Zhou(or the temple of Lu)for"it inclines when empty,is upright when half full,and overturns when completely full."He introduced his ideas on chiman with this observation.Western Han literature also recorded Confucius s comments regarding the two hexagrams of Decrease(Sun)and Increase(Yi)in the Book of Changes,to further express ideas on chiman,that is,how one gains through self-effacing and remaining receptive.The Laozi stresses the idea of"never wishing to be full,"believing that"it is better to leave the vessel unfilled than to attempt to carry it when it is full,"advocates"withdrawing into obscurity after winning merit,"and opposes indulgence in extravagance and debauchery,which is another manifestation of chiman.Receiving an intellectual inheritance on the Way of life from the Laozi,the Guanzi further advocates"whoever pursues fullness must give it to Heaven,"and holds that a brilliant ruler is one who models himself on the Way of Heaven,seeking to be"full but not overflowing"and striving to be"noble but never arrogant"and"wealthy but never extravagant,"thus a ruler may maintain his wealth,rank,and rule for a long period of time.The Discourses of the States,through recounting the story of Fan Li,offers a further extension to the idea of"pursuing complete fullness and following Heaven."Thenceforth,the Confucian doctrine that"humility brings increase whilst pride incurs decrease,"and the Daoist doctrines of"withdrawing into obscurity after winning merit"and"bright but not dazzling"have jointly contributed to shaping the finer features of the Chinese people’s spiritual character.