论太平天国的正邪观

On the Concept of Good and Evil of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

在太平天国文献中,太平天国领导人反复申论正与邪的问题,内容涉及宗教、政治、社会诸问题,这从一个侧面反映了太平天国领导人的宗教观念、政治抱负和社会理想。在宗教上,确立皇上帝独一真神权威,信奉、敬拜上帝是正,其他一切不符合上帝教教义的人、事、物皆为妖邪;在政治上,主张"奉天诛妖"、"斩邪留正",把清政府统治者视为最大的妖邪;在社会理想上,号召人们"修好炼正",并以严厉手段改造社会恶习,以实行社会的公平乃至天下太平。太平天国的正邪观,反映在宗教上有其积极作用,也有其负面影响;反映在政治上有其合理的成分,也有其荒谬的因素;反映在社会理想上,有其良好的愿望,也有其不近情理的做法。

In the literature of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the issue of Good and Evil, involving issues of religion, politics and society, is repeatedly expounded by the Kingdom＇s leaders, which reflects one aspect of their religious ideas, political aspiration and social ideals. In religion, the authority of the sole God is established. It is Good to believe in and worship God, and all the people and things which do not correspond with God is Evil. In politics, ＂Kill Demon under Orders of God＂, ＂Behead Evil and Reserve Good＂ is advocated, and Qing government is treated as the biggest Evil. As for social ideal, they call on people to ＂better and refine＂ themselves, to reform abuses with severe means in order to realize social justice as well as worldly peace and harmony. Reflected in religion, the concept of Good and Evil of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom exerts its positive as well as negative influence; reflected in politics, it has its reasonable composition, and absurd factors as well; reflected in social ideal, it has both its good wills and perverse means.