论春秋时期“德”的政治功能

On Political Function of Virtue during the Period of Spring and Autumn

春秋时期"德"的功能及作用主要体现在政治领域,"德"是君主守国的根本、"德"是霸主主盟的关键、"德"是臣子保位的必备、"德"是战争获胜的利器、"德"是与"刑"并用的手段。这表明,"德"在当时主要是作为政治功利手段被对待的,至少在春秋晚期以前,"德"仍主要是政治概念,还不属于纯粹的个人道德修养范畴。

The function and role of virtue in the Spring and Autumn Period was mainly reflected in the field of politics. Virtue was the fundamental of the monarch observing country ; Virtue was the key to the overlord contracting alliances with other countries;Virtue was the necessity of officials holding down their jobs;Virtue was the powerful tool for winning the war;Virtue and punishment were used simultaneously. This showed that at that time virtue was mainly to be treated as a political utilitarian means. At least, virtue was still mainly a political concept before the late Spring and Autumn Period, and it did not belong to the category of purely personal moral cultivation.