古礼今论

Viewing Anciet Propriety in Present Society

一、古今社会制度本质的差异,决定古礼并不下及庶人(平民,老百姓),今礼则应该而且必须下及于庶人。公元2008年5月19至21日的全国性哀悼活动,中南海怀仁堂前举行的党和国家领导人集体参加的向四川汶川大地震中遇难同胞致哀的盛典,实为共和国真正做到礼下于庶人的最典型最有力的证明。二、上个世纪的"五四"运动以及"文化革命"对礼义之邦的古礼和相关礼籍的批判未免过分。古礼当中反映古代圣贤思想认识高度的精华,古礼和相关礼籍的认识与实践意义,不应一概否定。三、部分旧礼与相关礼制思想的翻新、改造或适度回归,是人民共和国改革开放以来值得注意的文明建设的成就之一,也可以证明礼义之邦传统文明的生命力。

Firstly, the substantial difference between social system in ancient time and that in present society is that the former did not access the common people while the latter should and must extend to the common. There were national lamenting campaigns from May 19th to 21st in 2008 as well as the ceremo- nies in Huairen Hall, Zhongnanhai ,where our Party and state leaders mourned＇the victims in Wenchuan Earthquake. These are the most typical speaking witness of real universal practice of propriety. Secondly, the May Fourth Movement and Cultural Revolution in last century are examples of too far critisizing the ancient propriety and its relative collections in a nation of etiquette. We cannot negate the ancient propriety absolutely since some of them reflect the essence of ancient sages＂ ideological understanding and morever, it has some cognitive and practical meaning. Thirdly, some outdated ideology of ancient propriety has been refreshed, remoulded or reverted moderately today. It is a remarkable achievement of Civilization Construction since the reform and opening--up policy of PRC and it can prove the strong vitality of traditional civilization in such a nation of etiquette.