先秦儒家的“君臣之分”探赜——以《论语》、《孟子》、《荀子》为依据

On the pre-Qin Confucian views of the rulers and subjects

君臣之分乃是探讨君臣之义的前导,亦是研究儒家政治秩序观念的基础性问题。孔孟的"君臣之分"是社会的一种现实秩序,乃人群中自然呈现出的状态,或言"原初状态",而混乱和伦常崩坏是由于人们打乱了这种社会合力形成的君臣之分,争夺君主的权力,故孔孟都倾向于君臣分际中维持平衡。而荀子认为社会初始状态是相互争斗,因明王出区分出了高低贵贱,人们这才能和谐相处,无形中赋予了王权以第一位的合法性和重要性。因而在纠正"君不君、臣不臣"中,三者亦呈现不同倾向。此外,虽于政治观持论有异,三者却均不以德性价值来要求社会秩序,而是倡导在自我德性淬炼中,与他人合作改善世间秩序。

The discrepancy of rulers and subjects is fundamental for Confucian study of political ideals. This essay attempts to explore the political views of Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi. Whereas Confucius and Meneius consider it as the state of nature or original status kept in balance by the confrontations be- tween disorder or ethic disturbance and political powers, Xunzi considers it as a great invention of rulers to curb the original fighting status, thus granting the utmost power to the ruler. Despite differences, they all tend to claim the social order from mutual cooperations and self-cultivation.