张载哲学“神”范畴析略

A Concise Analysis of the Realm of "Gods" in ZHANG Zai's Philosophy

“神”是一个古老的哲学范畴,在遥远的《诗》、《书》传统中,神具有实体神、创造神、作用神等诸多含义。到了宋明之际,张载的“神”则主要是讲太虚本体的特征、功能与作用。张载言神的目的是为了高扬本体,建立儒家的天道本体论,以回应佛老的挑战;同时也是为了防止主体的僭越,以引导人们顺应天道,追求圣人境界。

＂Gods＂ as an old philosophic category were varyingly defined, such as gods as the realistic existences, gods as the creators, gods as the role-players, in Chinese classics, including the ＂Book of Songs＂ and the ＂Four Books＂. Down from the Song to the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Zai＇ s theory of ＂gods＂ mainly interpreted the characteristics, function and part of the subject of the heaven. Zhang＇s discussion about ＂gods＂ aimed to upgrade the subject and establish a Confucianist ontology of heavenly law to answer back the Buddhist challenge. Meanwhile he intended to guide people to heavenly law in pursuit of the sage realm.