中国传统社会变革的主要特征

The Main Characteristics of the Reforms in the Traditional Chinese Society

中国传统社会不断变革赋予了中华文明持久生命力。从上古三代至今天的改革开放,中国传统社会经历多次重大变革,并鲜明地表现为四个主要特征:与商品经济发展紧密联系,商品经济是社会变革的重要推动力量;以“民”的演变为基础和发展主线,经历了部族社会、豪民社会、富民社会、市民社会四个变革时代;以“乱”为表象,实质是“变”,是社会秩序的新整合,是走向“和谐”的必然过程;社会的整体变化,包括了社会意识和价值观念的调整。中国传统社会每一重大变革,都伴随着儒学的复兴和发展。

The continuous reforms in the traditional Chinese society have rendered Chinese civilization ever-lasting vitality. From ancient times up to the present reform, the traditional Chinese society has experienced quite a few great reforms which reveal four main characteristics as follows: 1. The reforms are related closely to commodity economy which is its main motive force. 2. The reforms are based on the changes of the position of the people with the tribal society, the society of the local despots, the society of the rich and the civilian society as the four representatives. 3. Superficially, these reforms show the trait of disorder but their nature is “transformation” which aims at a reorganization and integration of social order and is a necessary process of marching toward “harmony”. 4. The reforms have caused the transformation of the whole society, including such aspects as social consciousness and values. Every great reform in the traditional Chinese society is in the company of the revival and development of Confucianism.