中国古代经筵概论

An Introduction of JingYan in Ancient China

经筵可以定义为"古代帝王为研读经史而特设的御前讲席",但在历史应用上有本意和引伸义、广义和狭义的区别。其起源可以追溯到汉唐,在宋代形成制度。历代经筵制度的具体内涵、性质不尽相同。经筵既是一种帝王教育制度,又是一种对君主专制体制有所制约的政治制度,还是一种文化礼仪形式,是各王朝崇儒重道文教政策的象征。

China＇ s ancient Jingyan, which can be defined as ＂the royal command lectures given to the emperors＂, differs in its original or extended, broad or narrow senses of the word meaning, therefore requiring additional illustrations. Jingyan can trace its back to Han and Tang dynasty, and took shape in Song dynasty, the meanings and the characteristics of which in all the past dynasties vary. Jingyan is an imperial educatnal system and a political system to restrain from absolute monarchy, but in most cases, it is just a form of ceremoniousness, as the symbol of emperor＇ s reverence for Confucian education.