救世书解——魏源《老子本义》述评

A Book to Salvation:Review of Wei Yuan's Laozibenyi

诠释《老子》是魏源探求经世之道的重要一站。他从理性上分辨了老学与儒学的区别,但在论述《老子》的社会价值、核心思想等方面,却极力引儒入老,以儒释老。认为《老子》的"真"或"本义"是救世,是欲"以太古之世矫末世之弊。"而儒家称道"行仁政"的文景之治,正是实施《老子》"无为、无欲"主张的典型。

Interpreting Lao-tzu is a very important path for Wei Yuan in exploring the ability of statecraft. He tells the differences between Taoism and Confucianism rationally, but when he discusses the social value and the core idea of Lao-tzu, he makes an utmost effort to borrow Confucianism to interpret Taoism. He thinks the ＂zhen＂ or ＂benyi＂ in Lao-tsz means salvation, with the aim of correcting nowadays＇ errors by using the old- world＇s standard. Wen-Jing period, which the Confucianism praises as ＂benevolent governance＂, is a typical period of time to implement the idea of ＂inaction and unselfishness＂.