王船山对“古今之争”的思考及其当代意义

Wang Chuan-shan's Thinking on the “Ancient and Modern Disputate” and Its Contemporary Significance

"古今之争"在传统中国儒家观念中是指三代与其后的时代的关系问题。这个问题首先是一个历史哲学问题,在古今优劣问题上,王船山作为一名仍属于宋明道学范畴的儒者,固然承继北宋以来"回向三代"的传统,但又有创见,认为三代以后也有践行"仁义之道"者,如汉光武帝、唐太祖、宋太祖。其次这个问题也是一个政治哲学问题,在如何效法三代的问题上,船山认为后世效法三代正确的做法是效法三代先王之德和先王之道,而不是因时而设的三代之法(政)。可以说,王船山在古今问题上的思考方式对当代思考传统与现代之争有一定的借鉴意义。

'Ancient and Modern dispute' in traditional Chinese Confucian concept refers to the relationship between the Three Generations(ideal ancient times) and after its era. This problem is primarily a question of the philosophy of history. Wang Chuan-shan is still a Neo-Confucian, inheriting Song Dynasty's tradition of 'back to Three Generations' tradition. But he has new ideas, such as holding that after Three Generations there are also persons that take 'the Road of righteousness', like emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty and Taizu of Tang Dynasty. Secondly, the problem is a problem of political philosophy, on how to follow the examples of Three Generations. Chuan-shan thought that the right approach is to follow the exemplary virtues of the kings from Three Generations, rather than the law of Three Generations adapting to its time. It can be said that Wang Chuan-shan's thinking on 'Ancient and Modern dispute' has a certain contemporary significance.