从“圣之时者”看孟子的人生志趣

Meng Zi's Philosophy from the Respect of "Modern Sage"

"圣之时者"是孟子对孔子的评价。这一概念既是孟子对孔子推崇备至的体现,也是孟子对战国时代两种重要价值观念"圣人"与"时"的发展与提炼。孟子崇拜孔子,终其一生追随孔子精神,孔子自然是他心目中最完美、最伟大的与时俱进的圣人。同时,"圣之时者"也是孟子对自身际遇的一种反思与感悟,是他一直渴望却难以实现的美丽憧憬。成为与时俱进的圣人是孟子的理想人生;固守信念,执着理想,以一身"浩然之气"行走于用兵争强、以功利相高的战国乱世却是孟子的现实人生。这两种不同的人生志趣都对后世产生了深远影响。

It was modern sage who Meng Zi praised Confucius as. The concept of 'modern sage' was developed and abstracted by Meng Zi from 'sage' and 'time' which were the two important values in the pre-Qin Dynasty. It reflects that Meng Zi extremely worshipped Confucius. Meng Zi worshipped Confucius and followed him all his life. In his eyes, Confucius was a great and perfect sage naturally. Meanwhile, modern sage was Meng Zi's introspection and thoughts to his own experiences. It's a fond dream he longed for but difficult to realize all the time. Meng Zi's ideal life was to be a modern sage; Meng Zi, who was a inflexible and noble spirit, traveled in troubled times when common people flaunted their power and material gains each other during the War Dynasty Period, which was his real life. The aforementioned trends of philosophy make a tremendous impact on the later generations.