“慈善”语源考

“Cishan”:An Etymology Study

《魏书·崔光传》中的"慈善"不是"慈"、"善"二字合成使用的最早载录。传世文献和碑刻中都有早于《魏书》"慈善"的资料。大约在3世纪翻译的《大方便佛报恩经》中的"慈善"可能是最早的合成词例。"慈善"虽然首见于佛教经典,但慈善思想可以追溯到先秦时期。先秦时期和"慈善"意义相当的词语还有"仁"、"义"等。"仁爱"、"布施"、"义行"、"行义"等是早于"慈善"一词出现且与"慈善"意义相近的合成词。汉昭帝时,已将"行义"作为察举选人的科目,可见汉代政府对善行的提倡和重视。魏晋以后,由"义"组成的慈善类词语日益丰富。

The Chinese word ＂cishan＂ in Wei Shu ~ CuiCmangZhuang was not the earliest record of the composition of ＂ci＂ and ＂shan＂. Data about ＂cishan＂ can be found in inscriptions and other documents handed down from ancient times, all of which preceded Wei Shu. The word ＂cishan＂ in Da Fang Bian Fo Bao En Jing, which was translated around the third century, might be the earliest compound word. Though the word ＂cishan＂ was first seen in the Buddhist scriptures, the meaning of it could date back to pre-Qin period. Similar words about ＂cishan＂ in pre-Qin period also included ＂ren＂, ＂yi＂ and so forth. ＂Bushi＂, ＂yixing＂ and ＂xingyi＂ were similar compound words hut came into being prior to the word ＂cishan＂. During the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, ＂xingyi＂ had been used as a sub}ect to select officials, which is a testimony of the Han government＇s emphasis on advocacy for ＂eishan＇. After the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were increasingly more terms consisting of ＂yi＂.