易简与成位——兼论天、道、性、心诸范畴的统一与分化

Law of Nature and Self-improvement of Humans ——A Co-discussion on the Integrity and Separation of the Heaven,Tao,Character and Mind

《易·系辞传》中的道下行到人这里就不再易简,而展现为一个人谋求自身成位的艰难曲折的历史过程。故易之道似易而实难。北宋理学初兴,周敦颐和张载借圣人眼光看世界,把《系辞传》中的理想表现得很圆满,但这也遮盖了《系辞传》中实际隐含的"易简"与"成位"之间的张力。后世的心学过分强调易简工夫,也容易引人走上圆滑的道路。今人应该更多地站在常人的角度立论,把成位的艰巨性说出来,使人方便下工夫。

The Terminology of The Book of Changes explained the Tao of change of everything in nature except men. On the contrary it related to the life of men as a hard and tortuous historical process of seeking self-improvement. Thus the Tao in The Book of Changes seemed easy but was hard to understand. In the North Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism began to prosper. Zhou Dunyi and Zhang Zai viewed the world from a sagacious perspective, perfectly interpreting the ideal implied in The Terminology. On the other hand, however, they failed to preserve the tension between ＂change＂ and ＂self-improvement＂ in The Book of Changes. As a result, the philosophy of the mind overemphasized the significance of change, which was likely to guide people to becoming sophisticated. Therefore, as modem people we should theorize the arduousness of self-improvement so that they may work hard to become better.