墨子节用思想述评

On Mo Di's Ideas of Frugality

节用是墨子的一个基本的治国思想。他从衣、食、住、行、性、葬、乐等方面揭示了当时君主横征暴敛、奢侈荒淫的现状,并以古代圣王作对照,说明应该怎样节用。墨子的节用思想,主要是针对上层统治者来说的,是在保证下层百姓基本生活需要的前提下节用;而节用的主要目的,也是为了广大人民能够过上"暖衣饱食"的生活。如果说墨子有禁欲的倾向,那也是禁止一部分人过度的欲望,以满足一切人最低限度的欲望。

The idea of frugality is a major part of Mo Di＇s political theories. He revealed the reality of the monarch＇s extorting excessive taxes and levies as well as extravagant and incontinent life by displaying all aspects of the monarch＇s life： dressing, eating, housing, traveling, sex, funeral and entertaining. Mo Di compared the monarchs of the time with ancient sages to explicate the practice of frugality. Mo Di＇s idea of frugality mainly aims at monarchs and archons. He maintained that the precondition of frugality is that common people should have enough for life necessities, and the main purpose of frugality is to make the people dress warmly and eat one＇s fill. If we admit that Mo Di did have some tendency of asceticism, he merely urged to prohibit the excessive desire of a minority of people, in order to fulfill the basic desire of all.