礼乐及仁:孔子美学思想的发展

Ceremonial Rites,Music and Benevolence:the Development of Confucius' Esthetic Thought

孔子的美学概而言之就是礼乐美学。从美学角度研究礼乐,它的核心是美与善的关系。孔子在中国美学史上最早奠定了礼乐相亲、善美相成的基本美学原则,这一原则成为儒家美学的核心。孔子以克己复礼为己任,他所要复的礼即为周礼,其核心是宗法制,宗法制的核心是继承制。礼乐美学的最终目标是仁,仁即是美,美即是仁。孔子的礼乐美学思想中有许多内容是具有创造性的,为其后几千年中国的封建社会奠定了基本的美学原则。

Briefly speaking, Confucius＇ esthetics is that of ceremonial rites and music. Esthetieally, its nucleus is the relationship between ideal and fi＇iendliness. Confucius is the first, in the history of esthetics of China, to establish the basic principle of esthetics, which has become the core of Confucian esthetics. He took the responsibility of restraining oneself and carrying out ceremonial rites and regulations, whose core is patriarchal clan system. The utmost objective of the esthetics of ceremonial rites and music is benevolence. Much of Confucius＇ esthetic thought has creativity and it has established the basic esthetic principle for China＇s feudal society thereafter.