说“孝”——兼论文化的继承性

Talking about "The Filial Piety" and Concurrently Discussing the Cultural Succession

从训诂的角度看,"孝"字有"善继"、"善述"之义。比较"学"、"教"二字,以及"肖"与"不肖"的用法,其"仿效"含义与"似其先"含义,均可显明"孝"字的继承性意义。古人重继承,现代"文化"一语本身即意味着继承,如果社会的生存环境没有根本改变,就绝无彻底中断其文化而可以全然创造出一种"新文化"之理。

The article points out that ＂the filial piety＂（孝） has the meaning of ＂inheritance＇（善继） and ＂continue＇（善述） from the angle of explanations of words in ancient books. Then it compares ＂learn＂ （学） and ＂teach＂（教）, as well as the usage of ＂filial＂（肖） and ＂unfilial＇（不肖 ）, pointing out that the meaning of ＂imitation＂（仿效） and ＂looking like his father＂（似其先） can show the significance of ＂the filial piety＂（地） succession clearly. The ancient took inheritance seriously and the ＂culture＂ itself means inheritance in modern times. If the society＇s living environment does not change thoroughly, it is impossible to create one kind of ＂the new culture＂ by interrupting the culture utterly.