“知止”三义与文化认同

"Knowing Where to Stop" and Cultural Identity

中国古代思想中有一个很重要的观念——“知止”。“回到你自己”是“知止”的根本义。这涉及到今人所关注的“认同”问题:自我的认同和文化的认同。从内容上讲,知止这一观念强调的是文明与自然的内在贯通。由此,知止的观念又展开为三重意义:回归自然、回向历史与成德知本。此三义辐辏于第二义而贯通为一体。其特点则表现为一个“复古”的历史精神。但“知止”并非故步自封,止步不前,而是要在“进”与“止”之间保持一种内在的张力和协调的关系。“知止”观念从存在实现论意义上凸显了一种历史的精神和思想文化的差异原则。这对于当代中国的文化建设,仍具有重要的理论价值和实践意义。

Knowing where to stop is an important concept in ancient China. ＂Returning to be oneself＂ is the original meaning of the concept, which, however, touches upon the issue of ＂identity＂ a popular topic now. It concerns both individual＇s personal and cultural identity. The concept of ＂knowing where to stop＂ has at least three meanings, i. e, back to nature, to history and to the fundamental truth. The three meanings are all related with one another. Its core meaning is its historic spirit. Meanwhile, knowing where to stop does not mean to stop making progress. Instead is means to balance and coordinates between ＂progress＂ and ＂stop＂. The concept stresses on historic spirit and principles of differentiation in thinking patterns and cultural differences, which is significant in both theory and practice to build contemporary Chinese culture.