“学而”章义探微——兼论孔门为学与交友之关系

Newly Expounding of the First Section in the Analects of Confucius—Discuss on the Relation between Studying and Making Friends

《论语·学而篇》“学而时习之章”,历代注家阐释疏解,字斟句酌,以意逆志,亦各有会心,有裨于世道匪浅。然细绎文本,且联系《论语》全书,尤其是就孔门为学与交友之关系而论,则历代旧注旧疏皆不免隔靴搔痒。考《管子·弟子职》云:“朝益暮习,小心翼翼。”又云:“先生既息,各就其友,相切相磋。”则“习”者,“各就其友,相切相磋”,是“学而时习”为“时时(或按时)各就其友讲论切磋”之谓也。而孔门为学以养成君子为职志,以友朋讲论切磋为砥励君子人格之不二法门,且于讲论切磋之际,不以人不知解而怨愤,是即为“君子”矣。其事良难,故孔子尤重之,是《论语》编纂者取置于首篇首章也。而证之以朱、陆鹅湖之会,朱子亦不免“大不怿”,足与“学而”章义相发。

Many scholars have explained the first section in the Analects of Confucius, which were very significant but hardly ever corresponded to the original intention of the section. In fact, the word '习', in pre-Qin dynasty, implied not only 'to review' but also 'to discuss'. Therefore, the meaning of the first section in the Analects of Confucius would be that in the course of study you should timely discuss with your classmates, then you would feel happy; and some friends from far away come to discuss with you, you would be cheerful too; if you would not have a grudge against the classmates or the friends who could not understand you when you discuss together, you would be a gentleman.